What We Believe

Doctrine of the Bible

We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible (Genesis through Revelation) are the inspired, infallible, and preserved Word of God. We believe the Word of God was originally penned by men who were guided by the Holy Spirit, therefore ensuring His words were written without the admixture of error. The Bible is our sole authority of faith and practice. By the Scriptures (as described above) a person can know the only way of salvation and grow in their spiritual walk. The Bible is the complete and only written revelation of God to man. Any book claiming equality with it is counterfeit. (2 Tim. 3:16, Psa. 111:7-8, Isa. 40:8, Lk. 21:33; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; Matt. 4:4, 

Psa. 19:7-11, 1 Pet. 1:23-25, Acts 20:32; Gal. 1:6-8; Rev. 22:19-20)

Doctrine of the Godhead

A) The Trinity - We believe there is only one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Ghost). Although the words "triune" or "trinity" are not in the Bible, this truth is clearly conveyed. (Deut. 4:35, Isa. 43:10, 44:6, Mk. 12:32; Jn. 17:3, 1 Jn. 5:20, Acts 5:3,4,9; Gen. 1:26, 2 Sam. 23:2-3, Isa. 44:6, 2 Cor. 13:14, 1 Jn. 5:7)

B) The Father - We believe that God the Father is Father in His relationship within the Godhead and in His relationship with those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. We believe He is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. We believe God is pure spirit having neither form nor shape dwelling in light that is unapproachable. We believe He spoke all things into existence orchestrating their design. He sent the Son into the world to save men from their sins. (Psa. 65:2; Psa. 139:1-24; Jn. 1:18, 4:24 (Lk. 24:39), Jn. 5:37, 1 Tim. 1:17, 6:16; Gen. 1:1-24, Psa. 33:6,9, Hebr. 11:3; Jn. 3:16-17, 1 Jn. 4:14)

C) The Son - We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He was sent forth by the Father and was supernaturally conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost. By Him were all things created. In His humanity He was truly God and truly man. In His humanity He never sinned. He died in our place on the cross, was buried, and on the third day rose victoriously from the grave. He was seen of many witnesses after His resurrection and then ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of God the Father where He now intercedes for us. (Jn. 8:58, 1 Jn. 5:20, (compare Matt. 2:5-6 with Micah 5:2 and Psa. 93:2); Matt. 1:18, 20, Lk.1:34-35, 1 Tim. 3:16, Hebr. 10:5; Jn. 1:1-3, Col. 1:14, 16-17; Jn. 8:46, Cor. 5:21, Hebr. 4:15, 1 Pet. 2:21-22; Rom. 5:8, 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 8:34, Hebr. 7:25)

D) The Holy Spirit - We believe the Holy Spirit is an eternal Person of the Godhead and not a mere force or influence as He can be grieved, quenched and can speak. He was active in creation. He is also known in the Scriptures as "the Spirit of the LORD" and "Holy Ghost." He guided the writers of both the Old Testament and New Testament ensuring no errors were made. After our Savior's ascension the Holy Spirit was sent into the world to reprove men of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is the agent of the new birth. He indwells, baptizes, fills, and sanctifies the believer. He also makes intercession for the believer. He is the seal of our salvation and the guarantee of our future redemption. The Holy Spirit gave temporary sign gifts to the first century church for giving validity to the message and the messenger. These special gifts ended when the New Testament was completed. These gifts include apostleship, prophecy, knowledge, tongues and the interpretation of tongues, healing, and miracles. The Holy Spirit continues in the present day to endow believers with gifts at the moment of salvation, such as pastor, teacher, wisdom, discerning of spirits, ministering, showing mercy, evangelism, administration, faith, exhortation, giving. (2 Sam. 23:2, Acts 5:3,4,9, 13:2, Eph. 4:30, 1 Thess. 5:19; Gen.1:2, Job 33:4; 2 Tim.3:16, 2 Pet.1:21; Jn.16:8-11; Jn.3:5-6, Titus 3:5-7; Jn.14:17, 1 Cor. 6:19, Eph. 5:18, 2 Thess. 2:13, 1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30; Mark 16:20, Hebr. 2:4; 1 Cor. 13:8-10; Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 12:4-11, Eph. 4:11)

Doctrine of Creation

We believe the Genesis account of creation is the literal and historical account of the creative acts of God. We believe He created all things from nothing and without the aid of any evolutionary process. We believe the days of creation are six twenty-four-hour days. We believe that man was created in God's image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or of evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind." (Gen.1:1, Ex. 20:11, 31:17, Neh. 9:6, 

Jer. 10:12 Jn. 1:3, Acts 4:24, 17:23-26, Col.1:16-17, Rev. 10:6; Hebr.11:3; Gen.1:11, 24, 26-27, Gen. 2:21-23)

Doctrine of Man 

We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God, sinless and innocent. Because of Adam's willful disobedience to God, he incurred both physical and spiritual death; all men through choice and an inherited evil nature are totally depraved; there is no innate goodness in man to merit salvation. Man's only hope for redemption is in God's sinless Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Outside a relationship with God through Christ man is destined for eternal damnation in the lake of fire. (Gen. 1:26a, 27, 2:7, 22; Gen. 2:16-17, 3:1-6; Rom. 5:12-14; Rom. 3:9-12; 1 Cor. 15:22a, Eph. 2:1-3; Jn. 3:16-18, Acts 4:12, Hebr. 2:9, 14, 15; Jn. 3:36, Rom. 6:23, Rev. 20:11-15)

Doctrine of Sin

We believe "sin is the transgression of the law" of God. We believe sin is universal - "in Adam all sinned"- and that it separates man from God. Sin in the Scriptures is referred to in different terms, such as, iniquity, transgression, and trespass. We believe sin originated with Lucifer, who became the Devil, and that sin entered the human race through Adam as a result of his disobedience to God's command. The result of sin is both physical and spiritual death. (1 Jn.3: 4; Rom. 5:12; Isa. 59:1-2, Rom. 6:23a; 

Isa. 53:6, Ex. 34:7, Gen. 31:36; Isa. 14:12, Ezek. 28:15, 17b; Gen. 3:6, Rom. 5:12; Gen. 5:5, Ezek. 18:4, Rev. 20:11-15, 21:8)

Doctrine of Lucifer/Satan

We believe Lucifer was created "the anointed cherub" of God. In the pride of his heart, he rebelled against God and became "the Devil," also known as "Satan," "the great dragon," "that old serpent," and a "roaring lion." He stands as the "accuser of the brethren." He can transform himself into "an angel of light." His end is the lake of fire. (Ezek. 28:12d-15a; Isa. 14:12-15, Ezek. 28:15b-17c; Job 1:6-11; Rev. 12:9, 10; 

1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 11:14; Rev. 20:10)

Doctrine of Angels and Demons

A) Angels -We believe angels are created, immortal, and holy beings. The purpose for their existence is to honor, worship, and serve God. They minister to the heirs of salvation and are the agents of God's judgment. Their destiny is to remain in the presence of God for all eternity. (Col. 1:16, Mk.8:38c; Psa.103:20, Isa.6:2-3, Rev. 4:8, 19:4; 1 Kings 19:5, Hebr. 1:14, Psa.34:7; Ex.12:23, 1 Chron. 21:15a, Rev. 7:1, 8:2, 12:7-8; Hebr. 12:22)

B) Demons -We believe demons were created as holy beings, but chose to side with Lucifer in his revolt against God. They oppose the saved and can possess the unsaved. Like Satan they were cast out of heaven and some are now chained in darkness; in the end they will be cast into the lake of fire. (Col. 1:16, Jude :6a; Rev. 12:4a,b; Lk. 4:31-36, Acts 16:16-18, Eph. 6:11-13; 2 Pet. 2:4, Jude :6, Matt. 25:41)

Doctrine of Heaven/Hell

A) Heaven - We believe Heaven is the literal place where God's throne is established. The angels of God dwell in heaven; our Lord Jesus Christ is in Heaven now with the Father preparing a place for all the saved; believers will spend all eternity there in worship and service to our God. There will be no more sorrow, death, pain, or tears. We believe God admits into heaven infants and those who have neither reached the age of accountability nor are capable of saving faith. (2 Chron. 30:27, Isa. 6:1, 

Matt. 5:34, 6:1, 9; Jn. 14:6, Acts 8:55, Hebr. 12:2; Jn. 14:2-3, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, Rev. 4:4, 4:10-11, 5:8-12, 7:9-17; 2 Sam. 12:23, Rom. 9:15) 

B) Hell - We believe Hell is the literal place of torment originally prepared for the Devil and his angels. It is also the temporal place of torment for those who die without Jesus as their Savior. Men who die outside a relationship with Jesus Christ now go into Hell, but at the end Hell and all that are in it will stand before the great white throne judgment of God. After judgment all whose names are not found in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. Hell is described as "everlasting punishment," "torment." The lake of fire is the "second death." (Matt. 25:41, 46,

Lk. 16:22-23, 26; Psa. 9:17, Jn. 3:18; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 21:8) 

Doctrine of Salvation

We believe salvation is the total and complete work of God through Jesus Christ His Son. By His personal obedience He honored God's law completely. On the cross, He willfully shed His blood to pay the price of redemption, make propitiation to God for us, and to reconcile us to God. He is in every way an all-sufficient Savior. God's gift of eternal life comes through faith in Him. (Jn.1:13, Eph. 2:8-9, Col. 2:10, Titus 3:5; 

1 Pet. 2:21, Phil. 2;6-8, Isa. 53:5-11, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Pet. 3:18; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 3:25; Rom. 5:10, Col. 1:20;  Hebr. 7:25; Jn. 1:12, Rom. 6:23b)

A) Regeneration - We believe that in order for one to be saved he/she must be born again. Man is dead in trespasses and sins, and must be made alive. Regeneration is the new birth. At the moment the sinner is regenerated he is made partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the gift of God. He or she who has genuinely been regenerated will evidence this by a changed life and the fruit of the Spirit will be manifest. The Holy Spirit with the Word of God gives life to the repentant sinner. 

(John 3:3, Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:1-5; 1 Pet. 1:4, Jn. 5:24, Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 5:22-25; Jn. 3:5-6, James 1:18, 1 Pet. 1:23)

B) Justification - We believe justification is that judicial act of God by which he declares the ungodly righteous once the individual exercises faith in the Person and finished work of Christ alone. Justification includes the forgiveness of sins and the imputation (the putting to one's account) of God's righteousness; One's justification is not merited by works on our part, but is solely based upon the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 3:24, 28; Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 4:5, 5:1, 8-9; Gal. 2:16, 3:11, 24)

C) Sanctification - We believe sanctification is the act and process by which God sets apart the believer unto holiness and that it is both instantaneous and progressive. The believer's responsibility in this process is to yield his/her self to the moving of the Holy Spirit, thus living a separated life unto God apart from the desires of the flesh and world. The believer is being conformed into the image of Christ; a process that will continue as long as the believer is in this world. (1 Thess. 5:23-24, 1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Thess. 4:3-7, Hebr. 10:10, 1 Pet. 1:15-16; Rom. 6:11-13, Gal. 5:24-26; Rom. 8:29, Phil. 1:6; 

1 Jn. 3:3)

D) Security of the believer- We believe in the eternal security of the believer and that salvation is rooted in the promise and power of God to save. Once the gift of eternal life is received, it is forever and cannot be lost. The gift of eternal life isn't established in one's "enduring to the end," but in God. Eternal life is given to the individual the moment faith is exercised in Jesus Christ as one's Savior. We believe the Scriptures clearly teach that a person who is a "possessor" of Jesus Christ and not merely a "professor" will show genuine evidence of being saved. (Jn. 3:16, 3:36, 5:24, 10:28-29, Rom. 6:23b, 8:1, 35-39, 10:13, 1 Pet. 1:5; 2 Cor. 5:17)  

Doctrine of the Church

A) As an Organism - We believe the church is a living organism and is referred to in the Scriptures as "the body" of Christ for which he shed His blood. It is composed of all the redeemed of the New Testament age. We believe that Christ is its only and true Head. (Matt. 16:8; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:22-23, 2:13-22, 5:25-27, 30, 32; Col. 1:18) 

B) As an Organization - We believe the local church is an assembly of baptized believers who have joined themselves together for work, worship and the propagation of the gospel. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. Its only Head is Jesus Christ. We believe it is Scriptural for churches of like doctrinal conviction to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel. The local church is the sole judge of the measure and methods of its cooperation on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence. (Acts 2:41-42, 47; Matt. 28:19, 13:1-5a)

C) Its Ordinances 

1) Baptism - We believe that biblical baptism is by immersion in water as it sets forth in picture the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has set forth the formula when baptizing. We believe that it gives testimony to what has taken place in the heart of the believer - dead to sin and resurrected to walk in newness of life. Biblical baptism is that which follows ones salvation experience and is an act of obedience. It is a prerequisite for church membership. There is no saving power in baptism. (Matt. 28:19, Mk. 1:5,10; John 3:23; Acts 8:38, 9:18; Rom. 6:3-5; Acts 2:41; Titus 3:5) 

2) Lord's Supper - We believe the Lord's Supper (table) is a memorial of our Lord's death to be observed until He comes. The elements, bread and the fruit of the vine, are only symbols of His broken body and shed blood. These elements are to be taken by the local church together and should be preceded by solemn heart searching and self-examination. (Matt. 26:26-30, Acts 4:42, 1 Cor. 10:16-21)

D) Its Offices - We believe there are only two Biblical offices of the local church that of pastor and deacon. These offices are to be filled only by men that meet the Biblical qualifications. We believe the terms "elder" and "bishop" are synonymous terms for the office of pastor. (Eph. 4:11, Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13, Titus 1:6-9, Acts. 6:3; 

1 Tim. 5:1, 19, 1 Pet. 5:1, 2 Jn. :1, 3 Jn. :1, 1 Tim. 3:1-2, Titus 1:7)

E) Its Government -We believe the Scriptural government of the local church is congregational in that all matters of business are voted on by the active membership. All matters of final discipline are carried out by the active membership. (Acts 6:3, 5; Matt. 18:17, 1 Cor. 5:4-5)

Doctrine of Marriage

We believe that God ordained marriage to be between one (1) man and one (1) woman. Marriage was ordained to last the life of that man and that woman until one or both passed on. We believe any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, fornication, adultery, polygamy and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of intimate union. (Gen. 1:27-28a, 2:21-24, Matt.19:3-9; Lev.18:1-30, Rom. 1:26-29, 

1 Cor. 5:1, 6:9, Hebr. 13:4)

Doctrine of Separation

A) Personal Separation -We believe Scripture teaches that the child of God is to live a godly life wholly set apart from the world and that we are to keep ourselves from alliances with unbelievers. This includes business partnerships, dating, and the marriage union with an unbeliever. We are to keep ourselves from social engagements that would bring our testimony into question or bring reproach upon the name of Christ. (Judges 2:2; 1 Cor. 7:39; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, 1 Thess. 5:22, 2 Thess. 3:11-15, 

1 Tim. 2:11-15, 2 Pet. 3:11, 14, 1 Jn. 2:15-17, 28, 3:3)

B) Ecclesiastical Separation - We believe Scripture admonishes us not to join ourselves to any ecclesiastical organizations (churches or associations) or religious personalities that deny "the faith" or compromise its message. We are admonished to avoid those who have departed from "the faith" once delivered unto us. We believe in order to stand fast in "the faith" we must neither align ourselves with, nor have any type of cooperative evangelistic outreach or services with any church that does not completely agree with our doctrinal position. (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 16:17-18, 1 Cor. 5:11, Phil. 3:17-19, 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15, 1 Tim. 1:19-20, Titus 3:10-11) 

Doctrine of Last Things 

We believe that at death the believer passes instantly into the presence of Christ to remain in conscious joy until the resurrection of the body when Christ comes for His own. Then those believers that are alive shall be "caught up" (known as the rapture) to meet the Lord in the air. We believe the church will not go through any of the seven-year tribulation, but that it will begin after the rapture of the Church. We believe the greatest evidence the Bible presents for the church not going through any of the tribulation is its obvious absence in Revelation chapters 4 thru 18. (2 Cor. 5:6-8; 

1 Cor. 15:51-54, 1 Thess. 1:10, 4:14-17, 5:9)

The blessed hope of the believer is the imminent, personal pre-tribulation, pre-millennial appearance of Christ to rapture the church. His righteous judgment will then be poured out on an unbelieving world during the Tribulation, the last half being the Great Tribulation. The climax of this fearful era will be the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in great glory to setup the Davidic kingdom. Israel will be saved and restored to national superiority. Satan will be bound, and the curse will be lifted from the physical creation. Following the millennial reign of Christ, the great white throne judgment will occur; at that time the bodies and souls of the wicked dead shall be reunited and cast into the lake of fire. Then will begin the eternal estate when Jesus Christ will turn the kingdom over to His Father. 

(Jn. 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:14-17; Jer. 30:7, Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:4-26, 2 Thess. 1:10, 2:3, 4, 8a, 9-12; Psa. 2:6-9, Zech. 14:1-11, Matt. 25:31-46, 2 Thess. 2:8b, c, Rev. 19:11-20:6; Rev. 20:11-15, 21:8; 1 Cor. 15:24, 2 Pet. 3:12-13, Rev. 21:1-5) 

A) We stand alone with the Masoretic Text and the Received Text (Textus Receptus) from which the KJV was translated and accept only Formal Equivalence method of translation. We reject the Wescott-Hort, also known as the Critical Text. 

B) We believe the King James Version is the preserved Word of God for English speaking people. We only allow the KJV to be used in the teaching ministries of HBC.