Statement of Faith

LOMPOC VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

.....striving together for the faith of the gospel Phi 1:27

Statement of Faith

Article V- Articles of Faith

Section One: Of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally, plenarily inspired and the product of Spirit- controlled men and, therefore, was truth with out any admixture of error. We also believe that the King James Version is a reliable English translation in common usage and recommend it to our members. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions will be tried (Psalms 68:11; 119:89; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:20).

Section Two: Of the True God

We believe in one God eternally existent in three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit- who have the same nature, attributes and perfections (Matthew 3:16, 17; II Corinthians 13:14; I John 5:7).

Section Three: Of the Father

We believe that the Father is a Divine Person of the Godhead, who possesses all the attributes of deity and is co-equal with God the Son of God and the Holy Sprit (Matthew 28:19,20; II Corinthians 13:14).

Section Four: Of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and is the true God and true man and that he arose in the very body in which he had been crucified, that he ascended to heaven and that he is now seated at the right hand of God interceding for His redeemed people. We believe in His imminent, pre-tribulation return in the air. We believe the bride of Christ, the Church, is made up of all believers redeemed by faith in His shed blood. We believe that there is only one mediator between God and Man, the man Christ Jesus (I Timothy 2:5).

Section Five: Of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature that he was active in the creation and that His relation to the unbelieving work, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled, that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment and that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He seals, indwells, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses and sanctifies (sets apart) the believer; and that He is an ever present help to the believer (Luke 24:49; John 14:16,17,25,26).

Section Six: Of Creation

We believe the Genesis account of creation; that it was a direct act of God which was accomplished in six (6) twenty- four hour days. We reject the theory of evolution. We believe that man was created by the special act of God, in His own image and after His own likeness. We further believe that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law is that they bring forth only “after their kind” (Genesis 1; 1-2-25; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3).

Section Seven: Of Grace in the New Creation

We believe that all men are spiritually dead and must be born-again by the Spirit of God in order to be saved; this is an instantaneous act, not a process. We believe that the only two prerequisites for salvation are repentance and faith, which come from God. We believe that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the Word of God. We believe that the “new creature” in Christ Jesus will manifest voluntary obedience to the Word of God, that the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life will appear in every “child of God”. (Romans 5:12; 6:23; 10:17; John 3:3-8; Psalms 51:17; Luke 13:3; Galatians 3:22; 5:22; Ephesians 2:1-5; Acts 2:37,38; 20:21; Mark1:15; Psalms 51:1-4; Isaiah 55:6,7; I John6:44; I Peter 1:23; I Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:13).

Section Eight: Of Satan

We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and desire to be as god, fell along with a host of angels. We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the god of this world, the prince of the power in the air, the great adversary of our souls and that he is the author of all sin, lying, and confusion; that he is the tempter, deceiver, slanderer of mankind and that his judgment is destined to the lake of fire. (I John 3:8; Revelation 20:10; II Corinthians 4:3,4; Ephesians 6:12; II Thessalonians 2:9; Hebrews 2:14; Genesis 3:1-5; Chronicles21:1; John 8:44; I Peter 5:8; II Corinthians 11:14; Acts26:18; Matthew 4:1-6; revelation 12:9; Luke 4:13; John 13:31).

Section Nine: Of the Local Church

We believe its officers are pastors and deacons whose qualification, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We hold that the local church has absolute right of self-government, free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the only Head is Christ through the Holy Spirit. We believe that each local church is sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that one all matter of membership, policy, government discipline or benevolence, the will of the local church is final. (Revelation 2:6). We believe that there are two ordinances set forth in the Word of God and these two, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are to be observed until Jesus comes. Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water properly called “believer’s baptism”. It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with effects of the faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection of the Saviour’s death ‘till he comes; and our continual fellowship with Him.