Our Statement of Faith
We are
a
Southern Baptist Convention church committed to the biblical
doctrines and historic principles of the founders of the Convention. Thus, we
fully subscribe to
The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
(in particular) and
The Baptist Faith and Message (in
general).
What We
Believe
• In essential beliefs — we have unity.
“There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
and one God and Father of us all...”
Eph. 4:4-6
•
In non-essential beliefs — we have liberty.
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing
judgment on
disputable matters... Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?
To his own master he stands or falls... So then each of us will give an
account
of himself to God... So whatever you believe about these
things keep between
yourself and God.”
Romans 14:1,4,12,22
• In all our beliefs — we show charity.
“...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets
of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains — but have no love,
I amount to nothing at all.”
1 Cor. 13:2 (Ph)
The Essentials We Believe:
the Bible
The
Scriptures were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient,
certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience. The
Bible’s 39 Old Testament books and the 27 New Testament books are regarded as
inerrant and infallible in their respective
Hebrew and Greek original manuscripts.
2
Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13;
Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally
existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22;
Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19;
1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Divine Providence
God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and
perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet He
does so in a manner that He is neither the author nor approver of sin nor does
He destroy the free agency and responsibility of intelligent
creatures.
Isaiah 46:10,11;
Psalm 135:6-11; Proverbs 16:33; 1 John 2:16
Man
We
believe that man was created in holiness, in the image of his Maker;
but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state;
in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by
constraint, but choice; 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, without
defense or excuse.
Genesis
1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2
About Salvation
We
believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through
faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God; who by the appointment of the
Father, freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin; honored
the divine law by his personal obedience and by his death made a
full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the death, he is
now enthroned in heaven.
Romans
6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5;
Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
About Election and Calling
We
believe that God has chosen, before the foundation of the world, a people for
Himself, not because of any good which He foresaw in them, but of His own free
grace and love. That He elects and saves men from every tribe, tongue, people,
and nation. We believe that God calls each one He saves, sending His Spirit in
regeneration to draw them unto Himself and give them the gifts of faith and
repentance.
Ephesians 1:4-14;
2
Thessalonians 2:13; John 6:44;
2 Corinthians 4:6
About Free Will
God
has endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon
choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to
do good or evil.
Matthew
17:12; James 1:14; Deuteronomy
30:19
Perseverance of the Saints
We
believe that God will preserve to the end all whom He has elected, called and
saved. Also, all whom God preserves will persevere in Christ to the end, bearing
the fruits of repentance and faith with a godly life.
Romans
6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5;
Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
The Church
We
believe that a visible Church is a congregation of baptized believers associated
by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances
of Christ; governed by his laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and
privileges invested in them by his Word; that its only scriptural officers are
Elders, or Pastors, and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are
defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
1
Corinthians 1:2-9; Ephesians 3:20-21; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Acts 2:41-47; Matthew
28:18-20; Matthew 18:15-20;
1 Peter 1:5
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We
believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the
name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit; 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; that it is
prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation.
We believe that the Lord's Supper is a celebration of remembrance wherein the
finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of His people is proclaimed
visually as a comfort to the church until His return in glory;
and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Acts
2:38-39; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 16:14-15, 31-33; Acts 18:8;
Acts 22:16; Romans 6:1-5; 1 Corinthians 1:17; Acts 2:42;
1 Corinthians 11:24-26
Civil
Government
We
believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and
good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for,
conscientiously honored and obeyed except only in things opposed to the will of
our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of
the kings of the earth.
Romans
13:1-4; Matthew 22:21; 1 Timothy 2:1-8;
Acts 5:29;
Matthew 10:28; Daniel 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20 Matthew 23:10; Psalm 2;
Romans 14:9-13
Marriage
Marriage is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any
man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband
at the same time. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband
and wife, for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and the
preventing of uncleanness.
Genesis
2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5, 6; Genesis 2:18;
Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9
Our Lifestyle
Statement
What We Practice
Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions. Based on
what the Bible teaches, we feel very strongly about the following seven
practices:
Bible As Our Sole
Authority
“All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Since
God’s Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the
Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision
is “What does the Bible say?” We practice daily Bible reading, Bible study, and
Bible memorization. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.
Autonomy of Each Local Church
"And
He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
Colossians 1:18
Christ is the recognized head of our church, not any person, group, or religious
organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with
other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be
self-governing and independent from any denominational control. In relating to
our “daughter churches” that we sponsor, we encourage each congregation to
determine it’s own strategy, structure, and style.
Priesthood of Every
Believer
“and has made us
kings and priests to His God and Father…”
Revelation 1:6
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His
own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2:9
The
Bible teaches that every Christian is called to “full time” Christian service,
regardless of his or her vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is
a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry.
Every believer has direct access to God through prayer Bible reading.
Tithing
“And
all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of
the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy
to the Lord.”
Leviticus 27:30
At
Lake Deerwood Fellowship we practice tithing for the support of Christ’s body,
the church, as God commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the
Biblical standard of giving.
Immersion
“Having been
buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the
working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
Colossians 2:12
We
practice baptism by immersion under water — the way Jesus was baptized, and the
way the Bible commands.
Spirit-led Living
(Jesus said), “I am the Vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me and I
in you, you will bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
We
believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power
within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable
us to do what is right. (Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 5:18)
Telling Others About
Christ
“...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have.”
1 Peter 3:15
It is
the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News with those with
whom God brings us into contact. We practice personal evangelism and
inviting friends to church.
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