The Old Paths Bible Baptist Church

The Scriptures

We believe that God is the author of scripture (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21). We believe that its perfection extends to every word (Proverbs 30:5). We believe that God has preserved His word without error in the Authorized (King James) Version (Psalm 12:6-7). The King James Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice, and shall be the official and only translation used by the church.

The Godhead

We believe in one God eternally existent as the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost (I John 5:7). We believe God to be the Creator and sustainer of all things, visible and invisible. We believe the universe, and all that is therein, to be held together by the word of His power (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17).

The Word, Jesus Christ

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ to be God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:5-8), born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23), without sin (I Peter 2:21-22; Hebrews 7:26), the Saviour of the world (I Timothy 2:5-6; John 14:6), coming again to gather His church (I Corinthians 15:51-52; I Thessalonians 4:13-18), then coming again to establish His kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16; Isaiah 9:6-7).

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit. He reproves the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; glorifies Jesus Christ through the life of the believer; teaches and guides the believer into all truth (John 14:26, 16:7-14).

Mankind

We believe that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), but chose to sin by disobeying our Creator (Genesis 3:6). Because of this choice, all men are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5) which results in physical death (Romans 5:12-21). Those who reach moral responsibility become sinners by choice which results in spiritual death (Romans 3:10-23; Revelation 20:14; 21:8).

Salvation

We believe salvation is available to all men, by grace through faith, in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, apart from human works or merit of any kind (Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9). We believe water baptism is a public testimony made by the believer after salvation, and plays no part in being saved or making one a member of the church (I John 5:12; John 3:16; I Corinthians 12:13).

Eternal Security

We believe the saved child of God is eternally secure in the Lord Jesus Christ, kept by His power, sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (John 5:24, 14:16; Ephesians 4:30).

 

Eternal State

We believe that all men rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the conscious torment of a literal lake of fire, created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41); while all those receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour will spend eternity in heaven in the glorious presence of God (Luke 16:19-31; John 5:29; II Corinthians 5:6-8).

The Church

We believe salvation makes one a member of the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-13) and that the members of this body should gather together in a local church where they may minister for the Lord and to one another (Hebrews 10:25; I Corinthians 11:20a; Acts 2:41-47). We believe it is the responsibility of every believer to proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ by personal testimony and by giving of their means to finance the missionary efforts of the church (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Proverbs 3:9).

The Believer

We believe all saved men should be separate from the ways of the world, both outwardly and inwardly (I John 2:15), being holy in mind and body (I Peter 1:15-16). We believe, however, that righteousness does not come by keeping of laws and commandments but by an inner change of the heart (Luke 11:39; Romans 12:1-2). We believe that every saved person should manifest the christian life in a consistent walk in the Holy Spirit, fully and constantly yielding his members to the indwelling Christ, so that he may always by life and word show forth the praises of him who has called him out of darkness into His marvelous light. We believe in a separated life for all believers, including unequally yoked marriages, and worldly alliances, pleasures, methods of work, worldly societies, etc. (II Corinthians 6:14-18).

Government

We believe the church is a body of which Jesus is the head. Thus it is not a democracy to be run by the will of its members, but is to conduct its temporal as well as its spiritual business in strict accordance to the word of God (Colossians 1:18; Psalm 33:4). We also believe civil government to be instituted by God. We, as believers, are subject to such higher powers and are commanded to honour them as long as such obedience does not conflict with the clear commandments of the scripture. Any attempt by the state to interfere with the working of the church or by the church to interfere with the state is a violation of God’s purpose for both (Romans 13:1-7; Acts 5:29).