THE DOCTRINAL STATEMENT of PBC THE HOLY SCRIPTURES This church believes the Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God and our sole authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church prefers the King James Version for use in all public teaching, preaching and practice for the sake of unity. We believe that the Holy Scriptures, the sixty-six books from Genesis through Revelation, is the inspired Word of God; that it was written by holy men of God who were controlled by the Holy Spirit as to the very words used; therefore, it is totally without error; that it is and shall remain, until the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; that it is basic to Christian unity and the supreme authority by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. (II Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4.12;. 1 Peter 1:10; II Peter 1:21) THE GODHEAD We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite, perfect, self-existent, sovereign, holy, personal, loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere-present spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the creator and ruler of heaven and earth; revealed in three distinct persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each of whom is to be honored and worshipped equally as true God. GOD THE FATHER We believe in God, the Father, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. God is the Father of those who believe on His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:6) He is the Father only of the born-again children of God. All men are creatures of God but not all are children of God. Man is a creature by creation; he becomes a child by recreation. (II Peter 1:2,4) He is the only one living and true God, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is infinite in every excellence. God is the Eternal Father. To be an Eternal Father He must have an Eternal Son. PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST We believe in the Deity and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; that He is the eternal and only begotten Son of God; that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, not having a human father; that He was sinless in His life, and is true God and true man; that He made atonement for the sins of the world by His death; was buried, and rose again the third day for our justification according to the Scriptures. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven and His life there as High Priest and Advocate; that He is the only Mediator between God and man. We believe that His coming for His own (the rapture) is imminent (pre-tribulational) and that following the Tribulation Period He will return to set up His Millennial reign (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:4-7 Matthew 1:18-25; 28:18-20; John 1:1-14; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; I Thessalonians 1:9-10; 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 2:1-8; I Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:10-15; Hebrews 4:14-15; Revelation 19:11-20:6). THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-eternal and co-existent with God the Father and God the Son; that He came to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; and to regenerate, sanctify, comfort, teach, indwell, guide and empower those who believe in Jesus Christ (John 14-16). A. He is a person, not an impersonal influence. In answer to the Saviour's promise He came on the day of Pentecost to perform His many ministries on our behalf. B. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every true Christian who, in turn, is commanded to be filled with and controlled by the Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:18). C. We believe that the answer to daily victory in Christian living (Godliness, Christ-likeness, personal holiness) and power for soul-winning is found in the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Romans 6 & 8; Galatians 5). D. We believe that all worship, witness, evangelism and missions should be conducted in the power of the Holy Spirit. We therefore discourage the use of fleshly methods of evangelism. All work and ministry of this church must be supported by Holy Spirit giving (through tithes and offerings) and by no other method (John 4:24; I Corinthians 1:18, 27-31; 2:6-16). E. We believe that speaking in “tongues" is not the sign of having been baptized by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:12,30). F. We believe that of all the spiritual gifts, speaking in “tongues" was recognized by Paul to be open to certain abuses and danger and that even in the New Testament age it occupied a subordinate place in the life of Christians. Such ecstatic utterance does not require a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, nor can it be accepted as a definite indication of His presence (I Corinthians 12:27-31). G. We believe that the gifts of tongues, healing and prophecy (revelation) were a sign to Israel for the Apostolic Period and that dispensationally God did not, in His Word, teach us that such a sign is for this church age. This church is not Pentecostal , or Charismatic. The teachings and practices of these groups are not allowed within the fellowship of this church, lest divisions occur and harmony of the assembly be weakened (Deuteronomy 28:49; Psalm 133:1; Isaiah 28:11-12; I Corinthians 14:21-23, 33, 34, 40). SATAN We believe in the existence of Satan who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and unlawful ambition rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-17; I Timothy 3:7) thus becoming utterly depraved in character (John 8:44), the great adversary of God and His people (Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:10), leader of all other evil angels and spirits (Matthew 12:22-28; 25:41), the deceiver and god of this present world (Revelation 2:9; II Corinthians 4:4); that his powers are supernaturally great, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God, who overrules all his wicked devices for good (Job 1-42; Luke 22:31-32); and that he was defeated and judged at the cross and, therefore, his final doom is certain (John 12:31-32, 16:11; Revelation 20:10); that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God and by the blood of the Lamb (Ephesians 6:11-18; Revelation 12:11). STATE OF MAN We believe in the total depravity of man. We believe that the material universe, including man, came into being by direct creation of God, and not by process of evolution. We believe that man was created in holiness, in the image and likeness of God, under the law of his Creator; but by voluntary transgression (Adam's sin) the whole human race fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind inherited a sinful nature and are now sinners: not by constraint but by choice. We believe man became alienated from God, being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, and that man is totally depraved, positively inclined to evil and therefore under just condemnation to eternal judgment, without defense or excuse, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:1, 1:26-27, 2:7, 3:1-15; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:18, 3:21-23, 5:12-14; Ephesians 2:1-3; Titus 3:5; Revelation 21:8). SALVATION OF MAN We believe that repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition for salvation. Salvation is totally of grace and made possible only through the vicarious death of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary. There is salvation in none other than Christ, and the personal acceptance of Him is absolutely essential. To be saved, a sinner must be born again; the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus, and it is instantaneous, not a process, but is evidenced by visible fruits of the Holy Spirit (John 3:6-7, 3:16,18,36; Romans 6:23; I John 5:13; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22-23; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9). We believe that the blessings of salvation are freely offered to all who will believe and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel (Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 23:27; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:15-17, 16:25-26; II Thessalonians 1:8; Revelation 22:17). We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the Word of God, we are partakers of His holiness; that it is begun in regeneration, and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, in the continual use of the appointed means--especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. The sanctification of believers is consummated at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17.17; I Corinthians 6:11; II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:27; Hebrews 3:1, 10:9-10; I John 3:2). JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to all who believe in Him is justification. This justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life. It is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by virtue of which His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God, and that it brings us into a state of blessed peace, needful for time and eternity (Isaiah 53:11-12; Matthew 6:33, 9:6; John 2:16; Acts 10:43, 13:39; Romans 5:1-2, 17,21, 6:23; 1 Cor. 1:30-31; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:7-9; Titus 3.5-7). ETERNAL ASSURANCE We believe, based on literal meaning, that all true believers possess eternal and everlasting life; that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation; and that they are saved and kept, not by self-righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ (John 3:16, 10:28-29; Romans 1:16; Hebrews 13:5; I Peter 1:3-5; Jude 24-25). CHRISTIAN WALK We believe that we are called with a holy calling to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit that we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. But the flesh with its Adamic nature, which in this life is never eradicated, being with us to the end of our earthly pilgrimage, needs to be kept by the Spirit constantly in subjection to Christ, or it will surely manifest its presence in our lives to the dishonor of our Lord (Romans 6:11-13, 8:4,12-13; Galatians 4:16- 23; Ephesians 4:22-24; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 1:6-7, 3:5-9). We believe that the Bible teaches both personal and local church separation. All believers are called to separation from the evil in the world and to separation unto God. Separation is God's only provision to preserve His people from worldliness and to keep his churches from apostasy (John 17:15; II Corinthians 6:14-18; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11). We require that members abstain from printed materials, television programs, videos, music and/or internet sites that promote pornography, adultery, fornication, fleshly lusts or any other activity that is clearly condemned in the Holy Scriptures. Members shall also separate from any questionable practice that may harm their testimony for Christ or the testimony of this local church. THE CHURCH We believe that a church (local assembly) is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; established by Jesus Christ, who is the sole Head; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising its Scriptural rights, and privileges; that its only Scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus. We believe that the church (Bride of Christ-all born again believers) began with the New Testament Saints and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the rapture (Matthew 18:15-21; Acts 1:8, 2:1-47, 5:11, 8:1, 11:21-23, 14:23, 15:22; 1 Corinthians 1:1-10, 11:2, 14:12; Philippians 1:17; I Timothy 3; Titus 1; III John 9). CHURCH ORDINANCES We believe that there are two church ordinances, Believer's Baptism and the Lord's Supper. A. We believe that the Believer's Baptism is immersion in water of a believer in Christ, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit to show forth in a solemn and beautiful picture our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, our death to sin and resurrection to new life; that baptism should precede the privilege of church membership and the Lord's Supper (Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 2:42-43; 8:36-39; 16:14-15, 30-34; Romans 6:1-23). B. We believe that the Lord's Supper is a provision of bread (unleavened) and the fruit of the vine (unfermented) representing Christ's body and blood, partaken of by believers in commemoration of the death of our Lord and Saviour, showing our faith and participation in the merits of His sacrifice, our dependence on Him for spiritual life and nourishment, our assurance of eternal life through His resurrection from the dead, and our hope of the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His own (Luke 12:10-20; I Corinthians 11:23-29). LIFE AFTER DEATH We believe in future life, bodily resurrection, and eternal judgment; that the spirits of the redeemed at death go immediately to be with Christ in heaven (Philippians 1:21-23; II Corinthians 5:8), where they abide in joyful fellowship with Him until His second coming (the rapture), when their bodies shall be raised from the grave and changed into the likeness of His own glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21; I Corinthians 15:35-38; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I John 3:2), at which time their works shall be brought before the judgment seat of Christ--a judgment which may issue in reward or the loss of rewards but not the loss of the soul (I Corinthians 3:8-15; II Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 3:25); that the spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment (Luke 16:19-31; 11 Peter 2:9), at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave and they shall be judged according to their works and cast into the place of final and everlasting punishment (Mark 9:43-48; Jude 13; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). BIBLICAL PROPHECY We believe in the pre-tribulational, pre-millennial return of Christ (the rapture) for His Bride (the church), a blessed hope for which we should constantly watch and pray, the time being unrevealed, but always imminent; we believe that at the end of the tribulation period the Lord Jesus Christ will bodily, visibly, return in order to establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years; at the close of which God will raise and judge the unsaved dead; and finally Christ will reign forever and ever with the Father, over the redeemed, in the new heaven and the new earth (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 22:26; I Thessalonians 1:9-10, 4:13-18; II Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 19, 20, 21). CIVIL GOVERNMENT We believe that civil government is ordained of God for the punishment of evil doers and for the protection of the good. (Romans 13:1-7) We, therefore, consider it our duty to pray for rulers and magistrates (I Timothy 1-3) and to be submissive and obedient to their authority, except in things opposed to the will of God (Matthew 23:10; Acts 4:19; 5:29; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13-14). We believe in the separation of church and state.