ARTICLES OF FAITH
We do not set aside or undervalue any other doctrine of the Bible, but the knowledge, belief and practice
of the truths as stated in these Articles of Faith we deem necessary for sound doctrine and thereby require its acceptance for church membership.
I. OF THE SCRIPTURES
A. We believe the Holy Bible was divinely inspired (God breathed) and penned down by Holy Spirit controlled men; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian Union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. It is the final authority for both our faith and our practice.
B. We believe the Holy Bible to be the verbal, plenary, inerrant, infallible Word of God, and that it has been supernaturally preserved in the sixty-six books of the King James Bible for English speaking people today.
C. We will use only the King James Bible for our Scriptures in both the pulpit and the Sunday School classrooms, rejecting all other revisions, paraphrases, and translations.
Psalm 12:6-7; 119:105
Proverbs 3:5-6
Isaiah 8:20
Luke 24:44-45
2 Timothy 3:16-17
1 Peter 1:19-21
Revelation 22:18-19
II. OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe that God is supreme in His person, eternal in His being, absolute in His attributes, glorious in His perfection, and sovereign in His will. God is clearly distinguished from things which have no life; He is a person. God is the Creator of man and the entire universe and upholds all things by the Word of His power. We believe also in the Trinity. The Father is the fullness of the Godhead invisible; the Son is the fullness of the Godhead manifested; the Holy Spirit is the fullness of the Godhead in His executive agency; and that They are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory. God in His person possesses Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, and Immutability.
Genesis 1:1, 26
Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
2 Corinthians 13:14
1 John 5:7
A. Person and Work of God the Father
We believe in God the Father, perfect in holiness, boundless in love, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; He hears and answers prayers and He saves by faith those who come to Him through Jesus Christ His Son.
Psalm 99:9; 147:5
Isaiah 44:24
John 3:16; 14:13-14
B. Person and Work of God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, and that He pre-existed with the Father and became man, without ceasing to be God. He was begotten of the Holy Spirit, in a miraculous manner; born of the virgin Mary as no other man was ever born or can be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son.
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 1:35
John 1:1-2
We believe that He was sinless in His nature and life, and infallible in His teaching; that He accomplished our redemption, making atonement for our sins through His substitutionary death on the cross according to the Scriptures; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
1 Peter 2:24
Romans 4:25
1 John 2:2
2 Corinthians 5:21
Galatians 1:4
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ 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
Romans 8:34
1 John 1:1-2
Wc believe in the “Blessed Hope,” the personal, imminent, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to the earth with His saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom.
Titus 2:13
1 Thessalonians l:10; 4:13-18
Zechariah 14:4-11
Revelation 3:10; 19:1-16; 20: l-6
C. Person and Work of God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains Satan until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He indwells the believers at the moment of salvation and is their constant source of strength and power; that He seals, guides, teaches, comforts, sanctifies, and helps the believer; and that He witnesses and glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 5:3-4
John 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-15
Romans 8:16, 26-27
1 Peter 1:2
Ephesians 1:13
III. OF SATAN
We believe in the personal existence of Satan, the Devil, who was created a perfect angelic being; who willfully led a host of other angels in rebellion against God before the world began; who is the author of sin, sickness, and all false religions; who is the accuser of saints and tempter of all men; and who shall be cast into the lake of fire with his followers at the end of the millennium to remain there forever.
We further believe that he is the deceiver and god of this present world, that his powers are vast, but strictly limited by God; that he was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore his final doom is certain; that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God, by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 14:12-17
Ezekiel 28:11-19
Job 1:6-12
1 Peter 5:8-9
Revelation 12:9-12; 20:10
2 Corinthians 4:4
1 Thessalonians 3:5
Ephesians 2:2
James 4:7
IV. OF CREATION
We believe in the Genesis account of creation as neither allegory nor figuratively, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any (organic or theistic) evolutionary process; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness and not from previously existing forms of life; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and that God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their own kind.”
Genesis 1:1, 11, 24-27; 2:22-23
Exodus 20:11
John 1:3
Romans 1:20
Hebrews 11:3
V. OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker; that by his own free choice and willful decision fell into sin and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is eternal separation from God.
We believe that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are totally depraved; that man does not possess any qualities whereby he might reconcile himself to God or save himself from the eternal consequence of sin. Man in his sinful condition is under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Genesis 3:1-6
Romans 3:10, 23; 5:12
Galatians 3:22
VI. OF SALVATION
We believe that salvation of sinful man is wholly by God’s grace and not by man’s works; that Jesus Christ came into the world to make full atonement for sinners by His shed blood, vicarious death on the cross, bodily resurrection from the grave, and ascension into Heaven again to intercede for believers; that man must personally repent of his sins and accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour to receive the free gift of eternal life and power over sin; that believers are in-dwelt immediately by the Holy Spirit of God upon faith in Jesus Christ; that man can be saved only once and that there is no other way of salvation for sinful man.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Romans 10:9-10
Titus 3:5
Acts 4:12
John 1:12-13
VII. OF ETERNAL LIFE
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept eternally by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. We believe once saved - always saved.
John 10:27-30
1 John 2:24-25; 5:11-13
1 Peter 1:5
Jude 24
VIII. OF REPENTANCE
We believe that repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit; that it is characterized by godly sorrow for sin as offensive to God and ruinous to the soul; and that true repentance is inseparably related to true faith in Jesus Christ.
Mark 1:15
Luke 13:1-3
Acts 17:31; 20:21
Romans 2:4
2 Corinthians 7:10
IX. OF JUSTIFICATION
We believe that justification is the judicial act of God whereby He declares us to be righteous through faith in Jesus Christ; that justification included the pardon of sin; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood that His righteousness is imputed unto us.
Isaiah 53:11
Acts 13:39
Romans 5:1,9; 8:1
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Titus 3:7
X. OF SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished in a threefold manner: First, an act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Saviour; Second, a continuing process in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life; Third, the final accomplishment of this process at the Lord’s return.
Hebr ews 10:10-14
Job 17:17
1 Corinthians 1:30
Ephesians 5:25-27
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23
1 John 3:2
Jude 24
XI. OF SEPARATION
We believe that it is not a prerogative of Christians, but an explicit command to all believers to separate themselves from all forms of godlessness, apostasy, compromise, and worldliness.
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and that separation from all worldly and sinful pleasures and practices is commanded by God.
We further believe that the Scriptures plainly teach that Christians should not marry or have other entangling alliances with unbelievers; that Christians should not fellowship with those who deny the faith.
2 Ch ronicles 19:2
Amos 3:3
Romans 12:1-2; 16:17
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
2 Thessalonians 3:6
1 John 2:15-17
2 John 7:11
XII. OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
We believe that Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study, interpret, and divide the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit. Since no Scripture is of any private interpretation, we must diligently compare Scripture with Scripture, ever seeking Holy Spirit guidance.
Hebrews 5:5; 7:25; 10:19-22
2 Timothy 2:15
2 Peter 1:19-21
XIII. OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that God is Sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and that speaking in tongues (languages) and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established.
Acts 2:1-11; 5:12
1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:8-10; 14:22
Ephesians 4:11-12
Hebrews 2:3-4
Revelation 22:18-19
XIV. OF THE CHURCH
We believe that a Baptist church is a congregation of saved, baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, meeting together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, a united testimony, and actively engaged in carrying out the Great Commission.
We hold that each local church is autonomous, having absolute right of self-government, free from the interference, control, or dictates of any religious hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that Christ is the one and only Head and Superintendent of the church, and that on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the church is final.
Acts 2:41-42
1 Corinthians 11:2
Ephesians 1:22-23
Colossians 1:18
XV. OF THE ORDINANCES
We believe there are only two ordinances given to the church by Christ: Believer’s Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, and that both of these ordinances have no saving merit; and that as Christ gave these ordinances to the church, that the church alone has the authority to administer and/or partake of them.
A. We believe that baptism is for believers only and that the only mode of baptism is by immersion; to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, through Whom we died to sin, and rose to a new life; and that baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.
Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 2:41; 10:47-48; 16:33; 18:8
Matthew 3:16
John 3:23
Romans 6:4
Colossians 1:12
B. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service commemorating the death of our Lord on Calvary; that the use of bread and fruit of the vine are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood; that partaking is only for truly regenerated believers who have assembled with Smoky Valley Baptist Church pursuant to her by-laws; and that faithful self-examination should precede its observance.
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Matthew 26:26-29
XVI. OF CHURCH AND STATE
We recognize government as being ordained of God, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates and those in authority are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed as long as they are not in opposition to the will and Word of God.
We heartily concur with Article I of the Bill of Rights (proposed in 1789 and becoming enforced December 15, 1791) which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Matthew 22:21
Acts 4:19-20; 5:29
Romans 13:1-7
XVII. OF MISSIONS
Because all men everywhere without Christ are lost and bound for eternal punishment, and because men cannot believe in Him of whom they have not heard, we believe that we are debtors to all men and have the responsibility of giving them the Gospel.
We believe the Great Commission was given to the Churches, and that every believer must be a witness by life and word to tell all lost men about Christ; and we must support by prayer and financial aid those who go out that are sound in doctrine and of like faith and practice to represent us in other parts of the world.
Romans 1:14; 10:14-15
Matthew 16:15; 28:18-20
Acts 1:8
John 20:21
XVIII. OF THE SAVED AND THE LOST
We believe that Heaven is a literal, eternal place, prepared of God, a place of eternal joy and happiness for those who are saved by the grace of God.
We also believe in a literal, eternal, horrible place of suffering and punishment; a place with literal burning fire prepared for the Devil and his angels, where all those who refuse God’s grace and remain in their lost condition shall abide forever, eternally separated from God. At death the lost go to hell, and eventually with death and hell are cast into the lake of fire forever where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and the worm dieth not.
2 Corinthians 5:8
John 14:1-3
1 Peter 1:4
Luke 16:19-31
Revelation 20:10-15
XIX. OF THE RAPTURE AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
We believe in the imminent, personal, pre-tribulational, pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ for His Church, and that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, and the living in Christ “shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” and shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51,54
Philemon 3:20-21
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
We also believe that the Tribulation, which follows the Rapture of the Church, will be culminated by the Revelation of Christ, with His Saints, in power and great glory to sit upon the Throne of David and to establish the Millennial reign.
Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-9
Matthew 24:29-31
Revelation 20:1-4, 6
