Articles of Faith
From the time of the Apostles to today, Christians have laid out doctrine (beliefs) in brief, definitive statements. As those who know God, we believe it necessary to set forth in a concise fashion the cornerstone truths that our church teaches as guided by Scripture. Our Doctrinal Statement summarizes essential Christian beliefs, shows unity in Christ, and affirms our belief in the Christian truths which have been held by the church throughout the ages and particularly since the Protestant Reformation, including believer’s baptism, and congregational polity (government).
Certain theological distinctives which distinguish Oak Grove Baptist Church from other churches who would affirm the basic doctrines and which shape the teaching of the church are noted. We do not expect all members to embrace all aspects of these distinctives, but members should expect that nothing contrary to these distinctives will be taught.
The Holy Scriptures
We teach that the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, written by human authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to choose the exact words that would convey God’s intentions, contained no error in the original documents, and is the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. We teach that it is authored by God, its subject is truth, and therefore contains no errors, and salvation is its ultimate end. We teach that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us. Therefore, it is, and will always remain, the true center of Christian union, and the final authority in testing all claims about what is true and right.
God
We teach that there is one, and only one living and true God, an infinite all-knowing Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth who is inexpressibly glorious in His holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love. We teach that in the unity of the Godhead there are three eternally existent persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which are equal in every divine attribute. Yet, they execute distinct but complementary functions in the great work of creation, providence, and redemption.
Distinctive || God’s Creation of the Universe and Man
We teach that God created from nothing all that now exists in six days, and it was all very good. We teach that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit acted together in the work of creation, that out of all living things only man was created in God’s image and without sin, and that God granted him dominion over all lesser forms of life and over the earth itself. We teach that God, being eternally joyfully self-sufficient and not being moved by any incompleteness, need, or deficiency within Himself, was pleased in creation to display His glory for the everlasting joy of the redeemed, from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. We teach that God directly created Adam from the dust of the ground and Eve from his side, and that Adam and Eve were the historical parents
Providence
We teach that from all eternity, God decrees, or permits, everything that occurs. We teach that He is absolutely sovereign over all creatures and events and perpetually upholds all things; therefore, nothing is contingent (dependent on the action of humans) or uncertain to Him. Yet God did this in such a way that He is neither the author nor approver of sin, nor does He violate the will or limit the moral accountability of mankind. In God’s infinite wisdom and power, all things work together for the good of those who love Him and for the glory of His name.
The Fall of Man and Its Effect on Humanity
We teach that Adam, as the representative of all mankind, was created morally upright and perfect, but was led astray from God’s word and wisdom by the subtlety of Satan’s deceit thereby voluntarily and deliberately falling from his original righteousness and communion with God and as a consequence every person is now a sinner by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration, which results in a state of radical depravity, meaning that every dimension of his being is distorted by sin. Apart from the grace of God, fallen man is ruled by sin, hostile to God, sees the message of the cross as foolishness, and neither desires nor is able to love God, keep His laws, understand the gospel, repent of sin, or trust in Christ and therefore is justly condemned to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. During this life, this corruption of nature remains in those who are regenerated and calls for vigilance in the lifelong fight of faith.
Christ and the Way of Salvation
We teach that salvation is by grace alone and that the only way of salvation is in the name of Jesus Christ, who was sent into the world by the Father to save sinners. We teach that Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died a sacrificial death on the cross where He absorbed our punishment and appeased the wrath of God against us through the one-time act of shedding His blood to atone for our sins. We teach that on the third day he rose victoriously from the dead and is now enthroned in heaven where he continually pleads with the Father on our behalf, uniting the compassions of his human nature with his divine attributes so that he is qualified in every way to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.
The Freeness of Salvation
We teach that the blessings of salvation are freely offered to all by the gospel, that it is the immediate duty of all to accept the gospel with a glad, obedient faith and Godly sorrow, and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth other than his own inherent depravity (sinfulness) by which he refuses to listen and suppresses the truth in unrighteousness thereby rejecting the gospel which makes him wholly responsible for his just condemnation.
Grace in Regeneration
We teach that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again. This results in the mind being spiritually and savingly enlightened to understand the Word of God, which is accomplished in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit and the divine truth of the Word of God. This is done in a way that brings about voluntary obedience and faith, which is evidenced by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct.
Faith and Repentance
We teach that faith and repentance are required by Scripture and inseparably linked graces that are granted to us as a gift by the regenerating Spirit of God that deeply convince us of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ. We then turn to God with true repentance, confession of sin, and pleas for mercy while wholeheartedly receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.
Justification
We teach that Christ freely justifies (declares free from guilt or blame) those that believe in him, which includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life without any consideration of works which we have done. Rather, it is solely through faith in the shed blood of Christ by which His perfect righteousness is freely imputed (credited) to us so that God sees us as having the righteousness of Christ. This brings us into a peaceful and favorable state (right standing) with God and secures all the benefits of salvation for us.
God’s Purpose of Grace
We teach that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies. This in no way contradicts or negates the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord.
Sanctification
We teach that sanctification is the process by which the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God and becomes more and more like Christ. We teach that it is a progressive work that is begun in regeneration, continued through self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer by the power of God’s Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but never complete in this life.
Perseverance of the Saints
We teach that those who are true believers can neither totally nor finally fall from a state of grace. This persevering attachment to Christ is what distinguishes them from temporary believers. Though true believers may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, such that they incur God’s displeasure and grieve the Holy Spirit, their graces and comforts become impaired, they hurt and scandalize others and bring temporary judgments on themselves, and disgrace the church, nevertheless they will renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
The Harmony of the Law and the Gospel
We teach that the law of God is the holy, just, good, eternal and perfect rule of righteousness and moral government and that the inability of fallen men to fulfill its precepts described in the Scriptures arises entirely from their love of sin. The one great end of the gospel, and the means of grace connected with the church, is to deliver fallen men from bondage to sin, and to restore them to willing and cheerful obedience to what the will of God as revealed in the law requires
Distinctive || Christ’s Church and its Officers
We teach that there is one universal Church, composed of all those, in every time and place, who are chosen in Christ and united to Him through faith by the Spirit in one Body, with Christ Himself as the all-supplying, all-sustaining, all-supreme, and all-authoritative Head. We teach that it is God’s will that the universal Church find expression in local churches which consist of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, associated with one another for fellowship, hearing the Word of God proclaimed, practicing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, governed by His commandments as revealed in His Word, the building of each other’s faith through the manifold ministries of love, and holding each other accountable in the obedience of faith through Biblical discipline. Its only scriptural officers are pastors (men called to teach and govern as shepherds, overseers, and elders of the body — three terms that are used interchangeably in the New Testament for the same office) and deacons (those called to serve the church) whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. Women are not to fulfill the role of pastor in the local church, but are encouraged to use their gifts in appropriate roles that edify the body of Christ and spread the gospel.
Evangelism
We teach that the ministry of evangelism (sharing and proclaiming the message of salvation, which is only possible by grace through faith in Jesus Christ) and discipleship (helping followers of Christ grow up into maturity in Christ) are a responsibility of all followers of Jesus Christ. It is a priority in evangelism to unite new believers with local churches. The ultimate aim of world missions is that God would create, by His Word, worshippers who glorify His name through glad-hearted faith and obedience.
Distinctive || Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We teach that only two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We teach that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit to give a solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer’s faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior which results in death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We teach that it is required prior to being admitted to church membership. We do not believe in baptismal regeneration, nor do we hold that baptism is necessary for salvation. We teach that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of the death of Christ until he comes and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination.
The Lord’s Day
We teach that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day or Christian Sabbath. It is kept holy to the Lord when people have first prepared their hearts appropriately and arranged their everyday affairs in advance so that they may observe a holy rest and fill their day with public and private acts of worship and the duties of necessity and mercy.
Separation and Unity
We teach that because of the holiness of God in all His attributes and our responsibility to guard the purity of the Gospel, believers are commanded to pursue holiness, and separate from false teachers and clearly disobedient brethren. However, they must also value the eager pursuit of unity with faithful brethren in the body of Christ. We teach the importance of discipleship, mutual accountability of all believers to each other, as well as the need for discipline of sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture.
Distinctive || Family
We teach that God established the institution of marriage in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, whom He created male and female as unique biological persons made to complete each other, and that the pattern of the monogamous union of one genetic male and one genetic female in marriage until death parts them is to be followed. We teach that God’s plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage. Christians are to marry only other Christians or remain single as God enables them. Children are to be seen as gifts from God and are to be raised for God’s glory and service. An authority structure exists within the family. The Lord is the Head of the home, the husband is the head of the wife and is to love her as Christ loves the Church, and children are to be obedient to their parents.
Distinctive || Sanctity of Life
We teach that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end, and that we must have concern for the physical and spiritual needs of those around us.
Civil Government
We teach that God has ordained civil authorities to be under Him and over the people, for His own glory and the public good. Christians should make requests and prayers for those in authority and submit in the Lord to all things they lawfully require, except when they oppose the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
The Righteous and the Wicked
We teach that there is a radical and essential difference between those made righteous in Christ and those who remain wicked and disobedient. We teach that only those who through faith are justified (given right standing with God) in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem, while all who remain unrepentant and do not believe are wicked in his sight, and under the curse and wrath of God. We teach that a person’s state, righteous or wicked, and therefore their eternal destination, with God or separated from him eternally, is fixed at death and will remain fixed for all eternity.
Last Things
We teach the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection of the dead, the establishment of His kingdom, the final separation of Satan with his hosts and all the wicked, who are outside of Christ, from the benevolent presence of God to everlasting conscious misery which will eternally demonstrate His justice, and the everlasting joy of the righteous serving God and giving Him unending praise and glory which will eternally demonstrate His mercy.
The Glory of God
We teach that Christians must live for God’s glory alone through their awareness and enjoyment of His Person, submission to His authority and reliance upon His goodness. In truth, all things that have or will transpire serve to glorify God as their highest purpose.
Formulated with reference to The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, the New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1853), and the 1689 Baptist Confession for the 21st Century modernized by Stan Reeves