The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible is the originally written word, the verbally inspired Word of God, and the product of Spirit-controlled men. It, therefore, is truth without any admixture of error for its matter. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed and, therefore, are the final authority for faith and life. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme to which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. The Holy Bible, that collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation, preserved in the English language, commonly known as the Authorized King James Bible, is the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by McGregor Road Baptist Church. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21)

The True God

We believe that there is only one true and living God, and infinite Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love, and in the unity of the Godhead. There are three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exo. 20:2-3; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 14:10, 26; 1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 5:7)

The Person and Work 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 Hewas active in the creation, that His relation to the unbelieving world consists of restraining the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled, that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgement, that He is the supernatural agent in the new birth, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling them, that He seals them unto the day of redemption. He endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (Gen. 1:1-3; Mat. 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35, 24:49; John 1:33, 3:5-6, 14:16-17, 26, 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32, 11:16; Rom. 8:9, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14; Heb. 9:14)

We believe that He is the divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27)

We believe that the Spirit is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12)

We believe that the sign of the 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. 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 Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)

The Personality of Satan

We believe in the personality of Satan, known throughout the Bible as the devil, Lucifer, the prince of the power of the air, and the accuser of the brethren, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man and is destined to an eternal justice in the lake of fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:1-11; 25:41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10)

Creation

We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came into being by direct creation of God and not by evolution. Furthermore, we believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11; John 1:3, 11:9; Col. 1:16)

The Fall of Man

We believe that mankind was created innocent in the image and likeness of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by bondage, but by choice and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. In Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is depraved and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27, 3:1-6; Rom. 1:18-32; 3:22-23; 5:12, 19; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)

The Atonement for Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is entirely of grace, through mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by appointment of the Father freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sin, that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr but was the sole voluntary substitution in the place of the sinner, the just for the unjust, that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven.  He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour. (Isa. 58:4-7; Mat. 18:11; John 3:16; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:28; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 4:10)

Salvation

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be born again and that the believer is a new creation in Christ Jesus. It is an instantaneous work and not a process. Through the new birth, one dead in sin is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life: the free gift of God. The new birth is brought about through the drawing of the Holy Spirit by the Word of God, to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. Its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by 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 of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable. (Matt. 12:31-32; John 1:12, 3:3,6-8; Acts 16:30-33; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17-19; Eph. 1:7; 2:1,8-10; Col. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 1:9, 5:1)

Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification. Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life by the righteousness of Christ. It is not to be bestowed in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. His righteousness is imputed to us. (Isa. 53:11; Zec. 13:1; Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1,9)

The Local Church.

We believe that a local church is a congregation of born-again, baptized believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined by the Scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has absolute right of self-government, free from any hierarchy, individual or organizations. Its one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit. It is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and the furtherance of the gospel, howevereach local church is autonomous and is the sole judge of the methods and measures of its cooperation; that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final. (Acts 2:41, 13:1-4,15:13-31, 20:17-28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 1:12, 3:9,16, 5:4-7,13, 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:23-27; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)

We believe that the local church is the body and the espoused bride of Christ.

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 5:11)

We strongly believe in the biblical command to worship God together – in person. The word CHURCH means “a called out assembly.” If there is no physical gathering together, there is no church. We are blessed to be able to share our church services via livestream with our elderly shut-ins, infirmed, and missionaries around the world. However, we do not believe that a livestream or recorded church service is a biblical replacement for the command to assemble together. Furthermore, we do not recognize, nor will we comply with any outside edict, laws, mandate, restriction or regulation by an ecclesiastical body or government entity interfering with our biblical and First Amendment, Constitutional right to assemble and worship. As a congregation, if forced to choose between the mandates of God or the mandates of man, we will choose to obey God. (Psalm 122:1; Matthew 10:28; Acts 4:31, 5:29, 11:26; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:25)

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Christian baptism is the immersion of a born-again believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection of new life. It is a pre-requisite to church membership and the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of His death until He comes and should always be preceded by a period of self-examination. We recognize that both water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the scriptural ordinances to be obeyed for this church age. (Matt. 3:16, 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:40-41, 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 11:23-28; Col. 2:12)

The Eternal Security and Assurance of the Believer

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by the power of God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ and the sealing of the Holy Spirit for all time, and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 35-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Eph. 1:13, Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:4-5; Jude 1)

We believe that it is the privilege of the believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 6:1-2, 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

The Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Only those who are justified by faith in the name of Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of God are truly righteous in His sight. All who continue in unbelief are, in His sight, wicked and under the curse of the law and sin. This distinction holds among men in this life and after death, and in the conscious suffering of the lost in the lake of fire. (Gen. 18:23; Pro. 14:32; Mal. 3:18; Mat. 25:34-46; Luke 6:25; John 8:21; Rom. 6:17-18,23; Gal. 3:10)

Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. All officials are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in things in direct opposition to the will of Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. Furthermore, we believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: (1) the home, (2) the church, and (3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign to their respective biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. Civil rulers have no right to interfere with or to control religious matters; thus churches and religious organizations should receive no government assistance. (Exo. 18:21-22; 2 Sam. 23:3; Dan. 2:17-18; Mat. 22:21; Acts 4:19-20, 5:20, 23:5; Rom. 13:1-7;  Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14)

The Resurrection of the Dead/Personal, Visible Return of Christ and Related Events. The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the bodily resurrection, the high priesthood, the visible second coming, the resurrection of the righteous dead, the rapture the saints, the throne of David, and the Millennial Reign. We believe in that blessed hope: the personal, imminent return of Christ, Who will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Ps. 72:8, 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zec. 14:4-11; Mat. 28:6-7; Luke 1:32; 24:2-6; John 1:3; Acts 2:29-30; 1 Cor. 15:42-44; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18; 1 Tim. 2:5; Titus 2:13; Heb. 8:6, 9:28; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6,14)

Separation

We believe that every born-again Christian should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord. The separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances is commanded of God. (Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).

Missions

We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and word to all mankind, of the truths of the Holy Scripture, and to seek and to proclaim the gospel to all the world. (Mat. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:19-20)

Dispensationalism

We believe in the dispensational view of the Bible but reject the hyper dispensational view which opposes baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as for the Apostolic Age alone. We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not always of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations – the law, the church, and the kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Gen. 1:28; Mat. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 9:17, 10:32, 11:23-26; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; 2 Tim. 2:15; Rev. 20:2-6)

The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to the eternal life with Christ, and the unsaved to judgement and everlasting punishment. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are at death at once absent from the body and present with the Lord. We believe the souls of the unbelievers remain, at death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when, with both body and soul, they will appear at the Great White Throne and, after being judged, shall be cast into the lake of fire to suffer everlasting punishment. (Mat. 25:46 John 5:28-29, 11:25-26; 2 Thes. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:5-6,10-15)

The Christian Obligation

We believe it is the obligation of every born-again believer to support the church wherein his membership is contained, with prayer, with a life of Christian living, with tithes and sacrificial offerings, with attendance at all services, with a conscious effort to support any calling program, evangelistic campaign, and other movement designed to further the gospel of Christ. (Prov. 3:9; 1 Cor. 9:13-14, 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Phil. 4:15-16; Hebrews 13:16)

The Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by his literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

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; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, 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 and redeem sinful men. (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)

Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one, legitimate meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, covenantal union, as delineated by Scripture. Marriage ceremonies performed in any facility owned, leased, or rented by this church will be only those ceremonies sanctioned by God, joining one man with one woman as their gender was determined at birth. Whenever there is a conflict between the church’s position and any new legal standard for marriage, the church’s statement of faith, doctrines and biblical positions will govern. (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:22-23; Mark 10:6-9; I Cor. 7:1-9)

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage as defined above. We believe that any other type of sexual activity, identity or expression that lies outside of this definition of marriage, including those that are becoming more accepted in the culture and the courts, are sinful perversions of and contradictory to God’s natural design and purpose for sexual activity. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9-10; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

Family Relationships

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and elders) of the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a wonderful gift and heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate training and discipline. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two-distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God and the rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person. (Genesis 1:26-27)

Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce except on the grounds of adultery. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Mark 10:11-12; Rom. 7:1-3; I Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6; I Cor. 7:10-16)

Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion is murder and constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:13-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:36, 44)

Euthanasia

We believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, facilitates premature death, is assuming a decision that is to be reserved for God. We do not believe that discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome is euthanasia. (Ex. 20:13; 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)

Love

We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such actions. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; I Peter 3:8-9; 1 John 3:17-18)

Lawsuits Within the Church

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits within the Church. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)

Protection of Children

We believe that children are a heritage from the Lord and must be absolutely protected within the church from any form of abuse or molestation. The church has zero tolerance for any person, whether paid staff, volunteer, member, or visitor, who abuses or molests a child. (Ps. 127:3-5; Matt. 18:6, 19:14; Mark 10:14)