What True Life Baptist Church Believes
The following is a part of what we believe. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us.
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and plenary (every word) inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed and, therefore, are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only Bible used by this church, as we believe it to be the inspired, preserved Word of God in the English language (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
The Godhead
We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10, 26).
The Person and Work of Christ
a. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son and the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God, redeem sinful men, and destroy the works of the devil (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippines 2:5-8; 1 John 3:8).
b. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death and shed blood on the cross as a representative, vicarious (substituted in the place of another) sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 2:24; 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:7).
c. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ literally, bodily ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2).
b. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death and shed blood on the cross as a representative, vicarious (substituted in the place of another) sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 2:24; 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:7).
c. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ literally, bodily ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
a. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third part of the Godhead who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and seals believers unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14).
b. We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing (1 Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22).
b. We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing (1 Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22).
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin, the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-19).
Salvation
a. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, can be forgiven (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Matthew 12:31-32; 1 John 1:9).
b. We believe that repentance is a personal act, prompted by the Spirit of God; and consists of a change of mind toward sin which results in a godly sorrow over sin, as offensive to God and ruinous to the soul; that it is accompanied with great humiliation in view of one’s sin and guilt, together with prayer for pardon; also by sincere hatred of sin, and results in a persistent turning away from, and abandonment of, all that is evil and unholy; that it also consists of a change of mind toward God which results in a hatred of that which God hates and a love for that which God loves (Matthew 3:1,2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 17:30; 20:21; Luke 18:13; 24:47; 2 Corinthians 7:2; Romans 2:5; Isaiah 55:7; Psalm 51:1-4, 7).
c. We believe that faith is inseparably united with repentance; that it is an assent of the mind and a consent of the heart, consisting mainly of belief and trust, wherein the testimony of God is accepted and believed as true, while Christ is unreservedly received for salvation; that through it the believer is brought into vital relations with God, as seeing Him Who is invisible, freely justified; that it reveals Christ to the soul as a willing and sufficient Saviour, and commits the heart and life to Him (Acts 16:31; Romans 1:17; 3:22; 5:1; 10:3,9-13; Hebrews 11:1, 6; James 2:23; Jeremiah 17:7; Psalm 34:22; 125:1; 2 Corinthians 5:7).
b. We believe that repentance is a personal act, prompted by the Spirit of God; and consists of a change of mind toward sin which results in a godly sorrow over sin, as offensive to God and ruinous to the soul; that it is accompanied with great humiliation in view of one’s sin and guilt, together with prayer for pardon; also by sincere hatred of sin, and results in a persistent turning away from, and abandonment of, all that is evil and unholy; that it also consists of a change of mind toward God which results in a hatred of that which God hates and a love for that which God loves (Matthew 3:1,2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 17:30; 20:21; Luke 18:13; 24:47; 2 Corinthians 7:2; Romans 2:5; Isaiah 55:7; Psalm 51:1-4, 7).
c. We believe that faith is inseparably united with repentance; that it is an assent of the mind and a consent of the heart, consisting mainly of belief and trust, wherein the testimony of God is accepted and believed as true, while Christ is unreservedly received for salvation; that through it the believer is brought into vital relations with God, as seeing Him Who is invisible, freely justified; that it reveals Christ to the soul as a willing and sufficient Saviour, and commits the heart and life to Him (Acts 16:31; Romans 1:17; 3:22; 5:1; 10:3,9-13; Hebrews 11:1, 6; James 2:23; Jeremiah 17:7; Psalm 34:22; 125:1; 2 Corinthians 5:7).
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:4-5).
The Church
a. We believe that a scriptural New Testament church is a visible assembly of baptized believers, covenanted together under New Testament law for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission, with an unbroken history from the personal ministry of Jesus on earth to this present day. The only scriptural offices of the church are bishop (elder or pastor) and deacon, whose qualification, and duties are clearly defined in the New Testament. We reject the concept of a universal, invisible church as it weakens the authority of New Testament churches and it is unscriptural (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27; Acts 2:41-47).
b. We believe that the purpose of the church is found in the Great Commission, first, to make individual disciples, second, to build up the church by baptizing those believers, third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
c. We believe that the establishment and continuance of New Testament churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20; Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11).
d. We believe in the self-government and independence of each New Testament church, free of any external authority or control, having Christ as the head, the Holy Spirit for its guide and the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice. On all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, etc., the will of the church is final. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Romans 16:1,4; I Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
e. We recognize baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the only Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
b. We believe that the purpose of the church is found in the Great Commission, first, to make individual disciples, second, to build up the church by baptizing those believers, third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
c. We believe that the establishment and continuance of New Testament churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20; Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11).
d. We believe in the self-government and independence of each New Testament church, free of any external authority or control, having Christ as the head, the Holy Spirit for its guide and the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice. On all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, etc., the will of the church is final. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Romans 16:1,4; I Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
e. We recognize baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the only Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Baptism
We believe scriptural baptism is the immersion in water of believers in Christ, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, administered by the authority of a New Testament Church to show, by its symbolism, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, and is the only pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation (church membership) and to the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12-13, 26-39; 9:17-18; 10:25-26, 44-48; 16:14-15, 25-37; 18:7-11; Matthew 3:1-16; 21:24-25; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Galatians 3:27-28; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:15, 20-21).
The Lord’s Supper
We believe the members of this church, by the sacred use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (grape juice), are to commemorate together the broken body and shed blood of Christ in joyful anticipation of His return. As a church ordinance, non-church members do not participate (Matthew 26:27-30; 28:20; Mark 14:20-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:2, 17-34).
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ who will rapture all of the redeemed prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally, physically, and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic millennial Kingdom, which was promised to the nation of Israel (Psalm 89:3-4; Daniel 2:31-45; Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).
Missions
We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the mission fields and not wait for them to come to us. Since the commission is given to the church, it is always the sending agent (Matthew 28:19-10; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
