Articles of Faith
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Article 1 - The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible is a supernatural book; that it is the very Word of God; that it is in the 66 books the full, final, and complete revelation of God's will to man. We believe the Author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit. We believe it is the inspired, infallible, and preserved Word of God. By inspiration we mean the plenary and verbal inspiration; that Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit as revealed in 2 Peter 1:21. We believe that the only correct translation for English speaking people is the King James Version. We reject the modern paraphrased versions, the modern common version, and all other versions which delete the pure meaning of redemption and do a great injustice to the Deity of Christ. We believe and teach that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
Article 2 - God the Father
We believe and teach that there is One, and only One, true and living God. He is absolute in nature, perfect in attributes, and holy in character. He is the Creator of all things, animate and inanimate. He is immutable, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, eternal and Sovereign. (Eph. 4:6; Ex. 20:2-3; John 4:24; Ps. 90:2; Rom. 11:33)
Article 3 - God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is as much God as God the Father and God the Spirit. He was virgin born and incarnate in the flesh. He lived a sinless life and is the only true Saviour of mankind by His vicarious death on the cross. He resurrected bodily from the tomb, ascended into Heaven, and is now the believer's High Priest, ever interceding for them. (Is. 9:6; Heb. 10:11-14; Heb. 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pt. 3:18; Gen. 3:15; John 1:1-5; Col 1:13-17)
Article 4 - God the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person; that He is equal with God the Father and God the Son; he is of the same nature and was active in creation. In relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled. He convicts of sin, judgment, and righteousness. He is the agent of the new birth and indwells, seals, guides, comforts, and directs the believer. (2 Cor. 13:14; John 16:7-11; John 14:16-17; John 15:26-27; Eph. 1:13-14; John 14:26; Rom. 8:16; Rom. 8:26-27)
Article 5 - Creation
We believe the Genesis account and record of creation as literal and not allegorical or figurative; that God personally created the Heaven and the earth in a direct act; that He bought forth all original matter out of nothing. We believe that man was created directly in God's own image and not by the hypothesis of any kind of evolution. God's established law says that all species shall bring forth after their kind. We believe the all things were created in six literal 24 hour days and that God rested upon the seventh day. (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3; Acts 17:23-26; Heb. 11:3; Rom. 1:20; Gen. 1:26-27)
Article 6 - The Devil
We believe that the Devil is an actual being, the author of sin, and not an imaginary influence. We believe that he once enjoyed high heavenly honors and glorious heavenly privileges; that he through pride, ambition, and self will betrayed God and as a result brought down upon his head the judgment of God. He operates today as the god of the world and the Prince of the Power of the air; that he is the arch deceiver, and the father of all lies; that he is the greatest enemy, the great tempter, and the opposition of the saints. His final abode shall be the lake of fire which is the eternal place of punishment prepared for the Devil and his angels. (Is. 14:12-15; Jude 6; 1 John 3:8; John 8:43-44; 1 Pt. 5:8; Ez. 28:14-17)
Article 7 - The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence and holiness, clothed in the glory of God, and that by voluntary transgression of the Lord's command, fell from the state in which he was created. As a result, became a sinner alienated from God and brought upon him and all mankind just condemnation. Man is now, by virtue of his fallen nature, void of holiness, positively inclined to evil and actually condemned to eternal ruin without excuse. (Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12-19; Rom. 1:18; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:28)
Article 8 - The Virgin Birth
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of the virgin Mary as no other man was born or can be born of woman. He is both the Son of God and God the Son. (Luke 1:35; Gen. 3:15; Matt. 1:18-25; John 1:14; Is. 7:14; Mark 1:1)
Article 9 - The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the lost sinner is guilty and under just condemnation; by nature alien to God and that because of sin condemned to die. We believe that the atonement for sin was provided through the mediatory office of the Son of God, who by divine appointment, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin; that He through obedience during his earthly walk personally honored the divine law by keeping it, and through His death on the cross actually satisfied the Law for the penalty of sin. His obedience and sacrificial death made full and vicarious atonement for all sin. (Rom 3:25; Heb. 9:22; 1 John 1:7; John 10:17-18; Is. 53:12; Heb. 12:2)
Article 10 - The Grace of Salvation
We believe and teach that salvation is by God's grace and that salvation is free to all through the Gospel: that it is the duty of all to accept by faith that salvation. We believe that those who voluntarily reject salvation will face eternal separation from God in a literal place of punishment called Hell in Scriptures. When a sinner repents and receives Jesus Christ as His personal Saviour, he receives eternal life. The eternal purpose of God in salvation is first of all to preserve the believer forever in Christ; the believer is saved eternally. It is also the eternal purpose of God that the believer will conform to the image of His Son. This salvation wrought by grace then assures us that we are preserved in Christ by the power of God and no man can pluck the saved out of the Father's hand. Salvation is thus everlasting and the glorious truth "once in Grace, always in Grace" is true. (John 3:15-16; 1 Pt. 1:5; John 1:12; John 5:24; John 10:27-30)
Article 11 - Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn and inseparable prerequisites for salvation; that they are inseparable graces wrought in the heart by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. As the sinner is deeply convicted of his guilt and helplessness, he turns in repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving Him as personal Saviour and Lord and is immediately born again upon belief in Christ's accomplished work of salvation. One is not saved by a prayer, but rather a belief and repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 20:21; 2 Cor. 7:9-10; Mark 1:15; Matt. 3:1-2; John 3:15-18, 36)
Article 12 - The Church
We believe and teach that the local, visible assembly of called out baptized believers into a public place of worship and service is the only one found in the New Testament. We do not believe in an invisible or universal church. The local New Testament Baptist church is the only one authorized to carry out the great commission. The first New Testament Baptist church was founded by Jesus Christ during His own personal ministry. We believe entrance into the local church is by Scriptural baptism. We believe and teach that the local New Testament Baptist church is an independent congregation and is not governed or controlled by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. The will of the local church is final. (Eph. 3:21; Matt. 16:18; Acts 16:5; Acts 11:22; Acts 8:1; Eph. 1:22; 1 Tim. 3:15; Col 1:24; Acts 2:47)
Article 13 - The Church's Ordinances
We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are the only two local church ordinances set forth in the local church by Jesus Christ. Scriptural baptism began with John the Baptist. John's baptism was not Old Testament dispensation or an intermediate but rather a New Testament baptism. Our Lord Jesus Christ accepted this baptism Himself and accepted those that John baptized into the church that He organized during His own personal ministry.
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Believer's Baptism - Believer's baptism is to be Scriptural in that it must involve: 1) The proper candidate-the one who has been born again. 2) The proper mode or method-this is immersion. 3) The proper design or motive-to show forth the death, burial, and resurrection of the believer to a new life in Christ, and to make him a member of Christ's local assembly. 4) The proper administrator or authority to administer baptism-a New Testament Baptist Church.
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The Lord's Supper - We believe the Lord's supper is a memorial supper administered by the authority and instruction of the local Baptist church. It symbolizes the broken body and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and only members of the local church whose spiritual lives are in a right relationship with God are qualified participants in the Lord's supper service. We also teach and believe that there is no saving power or grace in either baptism or the Lord's supper. (Matt. 3:13-17; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-34; Matt. 26:17-30; Rom. 6:3-5; Acts 8:36-39)
Article 14 - The Resurrection
We believe that Jesus Christ arose bodily from the grave. We also believe and teach that this resurrection assures all believers the same bodily resurrection when the Lord returns for the saints at the time of the rapture. There will also be a resurrection of the unsaved to stand in judgment before the Lord, known in the Scriptures, as the Great White Throne judgment. (Matt. 28:6-7; 1 Cor. 15:42-52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Heb. 9:27-28; John 20:27)
Article 15 - The Rapture & Return of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ shall catch away all believers before the Tribulation period- the rapture. At the close of the 7 year Great Tribulation, the saints will return with Christ to the earth and shall live and reign with Him 1,000 years- the return of Christ. The rapture of the saints is an imminent truth. (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-55; Jude 14-15; Zech. 14:1-5; Titus 2:13; Rev. 20:1-6; Rev. 19:11-16; 1 Thes. 3:13)
Article 16 - The Grace of Giving
We believe that God's method of financing His work of spreading the Gospel is by the tithes and offerings of His people through the local New Testament church, which is the storehouse. The time to give is upon the first day of the week, and everyone is accountable to the Lord for their stewardship and giving of at least 1/10th of their income. (Matt. 23:23; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-15; Mal 3:7-10; 2 Cor. 8:1-8; Gen 14:17-20; Luke 6:38; Lev. 27:28-34)
Article 17 - The Church & Missions
We believe that all missionary endeavors should be carried on within the confines of the local church; that mission boards and mission hierarchies tend to corrupt and usurp authority of the local church. The Great Commission was given to the local New Testament Baptist Church; therefore, the authority to preach, baptize, and teach rests solely with the local church, and not with any school, board, denomination, or other religious organization. It is therefore our responsibility to train those who go forth to spread the Gospel, and to supervise their labors under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We do believe that it is the privilege and right of local churches to cooperate with each other in carrying out the great commission. This cooperation should be carried on in such a manner as to preserve the sovereignty and autonomy of each local body in all matters of faith and practice. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:1-6; Acts 13:1-4; 2 Cor. 9:1-15)
Article 18 - The Separation of Church & State
We believe that the original intent of our founding fathers was to keep civil government in its proper perspective. We believe civil government should be influenced by the prayers, preaching, and teaching and involvement of all believers in Christ. We believe Christians should be actively involved in the electoral and legislative processes, and working to promote godly government. All church ministers and ministries are God-ordained and need no man's approval or control. The Holy Spirit calls and maintains the work of God. The state is not above God. The state is not equal to God. The state is to be a servant of God to the people for good, and it is accountable to God for its acts. We believe that we should as much as we are able, "live peaceably with all men." However, we will resist peaceably all efforts of civil governments to control the churches of Jesus Christ. The separation of church and state is a misnomer. There is nothing in the 1st amendment to the U.S. Constitution which supports the idea of this separation. The original intent was clear: our founding fathers wanted to prohibit the establishment of a state religion and guarantee the free exercise of religious belief. The church is to be a minister of grace; the state is to be a minister of justice. We, therefore, exhort our members to be active in praying and working for a Godly civil government. (1 Tim. 2:1-2; Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 5:29; Ex. 18:11; Job 34:24; 1 Pt. 2:13-20; Rom. 12:17-18; Matt. 22:15-21; Prov. 8:15-17)
Article 19 - Last Day Movements
We believe that we do live in the "last days" which Scripture describes as perilous times. Recognizing that these days are upon us, and seeing a departure from the Word of God, be it resolved, that we, the members of the Cozaddale Baptist Temple make the following declaration: We declare ourselves to be Old Fashioned Baptists and oppose the interdenominational and New Evangelical trends of our day. We stand for the faith once delivered to the saints and oppose the modern liberal trends of our day. We declare ourselves to be a separated, autonomous Baptist church, rather than a denominationally-controlled church. We believe in the Pre-millennial, Pre-tribulation view of the rapture. We declare ourselves to be local-church centered rather than ecumenical in policy. We believe in the separation of the believer from all forms and trends of worldliness. We believe in the Scriptural account of creation and stand opposed to the many hypotheses of evolution. We stand opposed to the modern charismatic movement with its unscriptural practices. We know from Scripture that such experiences do not give evidence of regeneration. We believe these so called gifts have ceased as Scripture declares. (1 Cor. 13:1-13; 1 Cor. 14:22-34; Heb. 2:1-4)