STATEMENT OF FAITH
the following are the Biblical doctrines of SOUL WINNERS BIBLE CHURCH (SWBC). This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe.
I The Holy Scriptures – We believe the Christian Bible – the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, excluding the apocrypha – to be the only verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek writings, infallible, and God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21), therefore:
II GOD – The Godhead is one Triune God, eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Word (Son), and Holy Spirit – Eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections, yet different in role and authority. This is best understood by seeing that man, who is created in God’s image and likeness, is also triune – soul, body, and spirit – but cannot separate his parts at will, as God can. The Father is the “soul” part, with all authority, as man’s soul is his authority – where the will resides and decisions are made (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Titus 2:13; Acts 5:3, 4; John 8:42; Gen. 1:26).
III The Person and the Work of Christ
a. The eternal “WORD,” the “image” and “form” of GOD, “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature,” “emptied Himself” of His Godly power and attributes and “taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” became Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, the Son of God, while still God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary while she was still a virgin, in order that He might further reveal God and redeem sinful men (Isa. 9:6; John 1:1, 14; Luke 1:35; Phlp. 2:6, 7; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3).
b. The Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as our representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Col. 2:13, 14; Rom. 3:24, 25; Rom. 4:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24).
c. The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 9:24; 1 John. 2:1, 2).
IV The Person and Work of God the Holy Spirit
a. God the Holy Spirit is He who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them for the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; 5:5; 1 Cor.12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13, 14; 4:30).
b. He is the Divine Teacher who guides all believers in all truth; and it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit (John 16:13; 1 John 2:20, 27: Eph. 5:18).
V The Sinfulness (Depravity) of Man – Man was created in the image and likeness of God, but because of sin the race fell, inheriting the sinful nature, and man thus became depraved and alienated from God. Although man is now depraved (and through his own efforts in 'righteous works' is utterly unable to remedy his lost and fallen condition), God places a portion of truth within all men (Rom. 1:19), and expects each man to respond to this truth within by seeking the Lord (Acts 15:17; Acts 17:27). If a man suppresses the truth (Rom. 1:18), God declares that the man is “without excuse" (Rom. 1:20), and He is not obligated to provide more truth. Sinful man has the responsibility to seek God. He who seeks will find (Matt. 7:7). He who continues to reject the knowledge of God is given over in the lust of his heart, to degrading passions, and to a depraved mind (Rom.1:24, 26, 28).
VI Salvation – The eternal penalty for our sins is separation from God in a literal flaming torment (HADES–ABYSS, then the LAKE OF FIRE). Salvation from this deserved penalty is provided as a "free gift” purchased by the suffering of the LORD JESUS CHRIST to the point of death on the cross (Phil. 2:8-11). God's grace offers this "gift of eternal life" to ALL. Man receives this “gift" when he exercises his responsibility to “BELIEVE" that he does and always will deserve to be in hell forever. He must then “BELIEVE” (have faith in, trust, rely on, rest in) the fact that Christ's suffering was sufficient payment of the eternal penalty for ALL of his sins – past, present, and future (John 5:24). No amount of “good works,” or “sacraments,” will get you saved, keep you saved, or prove that you are saved. We reject the TULIP teachings made popular by John Calvin.
VII The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
a. All the redeemed, once saved, are saved eternally by God's plan and power, and thus are secure in Christ forever. You cannot “sin away,” “lose,” “fall away from,” ‘reject,” or “return” that which is ETERNAL – your salvation. (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 1 Peter 1:5).
b. It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; this privilege however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for the flesh (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
c. Those who do not understand or believe in eternal security do not understand or believe the GOSPEL. Eternal Security IS the necessary conclusion to truly believe the gospel of the GRACE of God. Those that reject this security are lost (John 10:28-29; Rom. 4:4-8; Gal. 2:4, 3:1-14, 5:1-4; Eph. 1:13-14; Col. 2:10-14; Titus 3:5-7; Heb. 11:1).
VIII Unbiblical Gospel Clichés – SWBC rejects the use of Christian clichés such as “accepting Jesus in your heart,” “opening the door of your heart,” “making a commitment, “ “praying a sinner's prayer,” “giving your life to Jesus,” “asking Jesus into your heart,” etc., which are totally unbiblical in their origin. These clichés only serve to confuse the unbeliever and, since they are unbiblical, they must be viewed as distortions of the true gospel (Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Cor. 11:4).
IX The Two Natures of the Believer – Every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for the victory of the new (divine) nature over the old (sinful) man, or “carnal” nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All claims to the eradication of the old (sin) nature in this life are unscriptural (Rom. 6:13; Rom. 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:1-15; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John. 1:1-10). The saved person who is living carnal (according to the old nature) will be disciplined by their heavenly Father (Acts 5:1-10; 1 Cor. 11:29-32; Heb. 12:5-11).
X Separation – God commands believers to be separate:
a. The saved are not to be bound or yoked in relationships with unbelievers, e.g., marriage, false religions, business partnerships, etc., (2 Cor. 6:14-18: Rev. 18:4).
b. The saved are to “turn away, keep aloof, withdraw, avoid, reject, not associate with, and not even eat with," other saved who refuse correction in their morals or doctrines, yet they are not to be regarded as enemies, but admonished as brethren (Rom.16:17; 1 Cor. 5:11; 2 Thes. 3:6,14,15; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Ti.3:10, 11).
XI The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
a. God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts. The elders’ teaching gifts of evangelist and pastor are necessary for the equipping of the saints today (Eph. 4:11-13). However, God has given other gifts to the saints that include: teaching, service, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy, (Rom. 12.6-8). It is the proper working of all these gifts that causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (1 Cor. 12:12-27). The Spirit gifts listed in I Cor. 12:7-11, along with the gifts of apostle and prophet, gradually ceased with the completion of the Bible (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 13:8-10; 2Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12).
b. God hears and answers the prayers of faith for the sick and afflicted in accord with His own will (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14,15; James 5:14-16).
XII The Church
a. The universal church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual assembly made up of all those who have put their faith in the blood of Christ (His sacrificial death) as their only means of salvation and thus forever possess eternal life (Acts 2:23-31; Eph. 1:22, 23; 5:24-27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2).
b. The establishment of local churches with elders as leaders is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17; 1 Tim. 3:1 - 13, Titus 1:5-11).
c. The local church elders are responsible to equip the saints for the work of service (Acts 14:23; Eph. 3:10; 4:11-14; Tit. 1:5).
d. Believers are commanded to submit to and obey church elders (Heb. 13:17).
XIII Church Titles – Jesus commands us to not be called, or to address anyone, as (our spiritual) "father," "rabbi," "master," "leader," "teacher," or "doctor." Leaders in the church are never to be referred to by any of these titles, although they may hold such a position and/or be gifted as a leader or teacher. The following reasons are given: (1) Christ is our Teacher and our Leader--to be replaced later by the Holy Spirit, (2) all saints are brothers (the early church leaders were addressed as brothers or fellow bond-servants), and (3) God is our Father. The elders in the church are to be "teachers," and they are to be "leaders.” They are to fulfill the position, but reject the title. A fourth reason given is that titles of honor often produce haughtiness and arrogance. That is why Jesus condemned them in the church; yet, in the world, these titles are acceptable. We have earthly fathers and grandfathers. We also have those in the medical professions whom we refer to as doctors, and those who are master plumbers and electricians, trail guides and leaders (Matt. 23:6-12; Luke 2:46; Jn. 1:38; 14:16, 17; 16:12-14; Eph. 4:11; Col. 4:7,9,10,11; 1 Tim. 3:2; Heb. 13:17,23; 1 Pet. 5:12; 2 Pet. 3:15; Rev. 1:9).
XIV Church Ordinances – There are two ordinances instituted by Jesus Christ for the Church Age believers:
a. Water baptism is the immersion, in water, of believers, as a public testimony to their faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. The believer must be able to communicate an understanding of these truths before baptism. That is why there is no mention of infants or young children being baptized found in the Bible (Rom. 6:4, 5; Acts 8:12; 36-38; 10:47, 48).
b. The Lord's Supper is the commemoration of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. It should always be preceded by solemn self- examination, and we should continue to remember Him this way until He comes (1Cor.11:23 -28). [These ordinances are not in any way part of the salvation plan, as erroneously taught by Calvin, Luther, the Roman Catholic Church, and others. There are no other memorials commanded by Christ, taught in the scriptures, or practiced by the apostles.
XV Church Discipline – All personal grievances between believers, whether legal, moral, ethical, or doctrinal, shall be reconciled according to the scriptural rules in Matthew 5:23-25; 18:15-17; Luke l7: 3,4; Acts 15:2-6; I Cor. 5 - 6:8; and Gal. 6:1. The discipline of SWBC is entrusted to the elders by the Word of God, and shall be exercised according the principle of Christian love, as in Gal. 6:1:
a. Members are expected to demonstrate special loyalty and concern for one another. When a member becomes aware of any offense that is considered sin, he is to go alone to the offending party and seek to restore his brother. Before he goes, he should first examine himself. When he goes, he should go with a spirit of humility and have the goal of restoration.
b. If reconciliation is not reached, a second member or two (preferably one a deacon or elder) is to accompany the one seeking to resolve the matter. This second step should also be preceded by self-examination, and exercised in a spirit of humility with the goal of restoration.
c. If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in subsections a. and b. have been taken, the elders, as the church representatives responsible for putting down murmuring, shall hear the matter. If the matter is not resolved during the hearing, such members who refuse to repent and be restored are to be barred from the fellowship and the assembly of the church.
d. A matter may not be heard by the church unless the steps outlined in subsections a. and b. have been taken, except in the case of a public offense where there is absolutely no question of guilt.
e. If an unrepentant offending party is removed from the church, all further contact with him must be for the sake of restoration (except contact due to authority situations within households, with fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, and children, which cannot be avoided; or other situations that are unavoidable).
XVI The Personality of Satan – Satan is a fallen angel, the author of sin. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Job 1:6, 7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Matt. 4:2-11; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
XVII Dispensationalism – The Bible can only be accurately interpreted, “rightly dividing the Word of Truth,” by using the dispensational approach. Dispensations are the different time frames in the Bible, such as when Adam and Eve were in the garden, the time from Moses to Christ’s resurrection, the Church Age, the Millennium, etc., where God tests mankind in different ways. All teachings outside of dispensationalism are rejected, such as the extreme teaching known as “hyper-dispensationalism," which is the teaching that opposes either the Lord's Supper or water baptism as a scriptural means of public believers’ testimony for the church of this age (Acts 2:41,42; 16:31-33; 18:8; 1 Cor. 1: 13-17).
XVIII The Second Advent – The Second Advent of Christ is a two-part event. The first part is the "Blessed Hope" – the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, coming for His redeemed ones in the clouds –the “HARPAZO" or "RAPTURE.” The second part is His subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish His millennial earthly Messianic kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel (Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; Rev. 20:1-6; 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18, 5:9;).
XIX The Eternal State
a. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men – the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26; Rev. 20:5, 6, 12, 13).
b. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where they consciously await resurrection – when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be forever with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17).
c. We believe that the redeemed of both the O.T. and N.T. will be rewarded for their works and holiness as believers (Dan. 12:2-3, 13; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10). (Forgiveness from the penalty of our sins – eternal punishment in the lake of fire – is not a reward, but a free gift – eternal life.)
d. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment in Hades until resurrection. Then, with soul, spirit, and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark. 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6, 7; Rev. 20:11-15).
XX Creation – 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 (Genesis 1-2; Ex. 20:11).
XXI Authority and Government – We believe that in this present Church Age God has ordained certain areas of human authority, consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church; 3) the state. The purpose of these institutions is to provide for human needs, authoritatively encourage and enforce obedience to God’s Word – the Bible, and to appropriately punish disobedience – or sin. Every person (including the authorities themselves) should be subject to these institutions, as long as the institutions follow Biblical principles. God has given each institution specific Biblical authority and responsibilities and balanced them with the understanding that any transgression of Biblical principles may give the other institutions the right to infringe upon them – to correct them or administer God’s discipline according to the guidelines of Matt. 18:15-17; Rom. 13:1-7 and 1 Cor.6:1-6. In this present Church Age, neither the home nor the church has the authority to carry out public incarceration or capital punishment. Neither the home nor the state has the authority to determine sound Biblical doctrine. The private homes, being the smallest spheres of authority, make up both the state and the church and are to be subject to them in areas that do not violate Biblical precepts and sound doctrine. The authorities of both the home and the state are to be under the authority of the local church elders, the church being God’s highest authority in this present age. It is the church elders who “keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.” It is only the church that is “the pillar and support of the truth,” the “restrainer of lawlessness” in the world, and has God’s promise that “the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18; Acts 4:18, 19; Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-6:5; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-17; Rev. 1:20, 22:16).
XXII Human Sexuality, Authority, Clothing, and Hair
a. We believe that God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of the marriage bond between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8, 9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom 1: 26-32; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).
b. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Rom.7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23).
c. 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 in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and evangelists – elders, and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for ordination by the church (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12).
d. We believe that there are to be distinctions between male and female clothing. Special care should be given to modest dress, especially with women (Deut. 22:5; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 2:9).
e. We believe that there are gender correct hair lengths for men and women. Long hair on a man makes him dishonorable. A woman with short hair disgraces herself. The woman’s head is to be covered (long hair); her long hair is given to her in place of a mantle (I Cor. 11:1-16; Rev. 9:7, 8).
XXIII Divorce and Remarriage – We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Desertion is considered divorce. To initiate divorce (leave or put out your spouse) is sin, and remarriage of a Christian who has initiated a divorce while being a believer is regarded as adultery. One who has been deserted or put out has the right to file for divorce, since their mate has already divorced them. Divorced men, or divorced men who have remarried, may hold positions of service in the church – elder or deacon – if they did not desert their mate, or initiate the divorce (Matt. 5:31,32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:11-12;Luke 16:18; I Cor. 7:10-16, 27-28).
XXIV Abortion – We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teachings that abortions of pregnancies are acceptable due to rape, incest, birth defect, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well being of the mother. (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).
XXV Alcohol – The abuse of alcohol is condemned in the Bible as the sin of drunkenness (as the abuse of eating food is the sin of gluttony and the abuse of sex is the sin of immorality). The general consumption of alcohol is not condemned (Num. 6:20; Deut.14:26; Isa. 25:6; Luke 7:33-34; 1 Tim. 3:3, 8; Tit. 1:7).
XXVI Giving – We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God's wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. Christians should give their offerings sacrificially and cheerfully for the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the gospel. We believe that Christians relinquish all rights to direct the use of their offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17).
XXVII Missions – The saved are obligated, commanded, and privileged to verbally proclaim the gospel in the marketplace to all mankind and to witness by word, works, and lifestyle as to the truths of Holy Scripture (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 2:14-16; 5:14-20; 1 Pet. 2:9).
XXVIII Christian Counseling – The Word of God teaches that "all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be ADEQUATE, equipped for every good work (Rom. 15:14; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:2-4). Thus, counseling for Christians is FULLY contained within the Bible. SWBC rejects all pseudo-scientific counseling systems invented by men such as Freud, Rogers, Mowrer, or Skinner, and rejects any and all psychiatry, A. A., N. A., and any other polytheistic, or secular humanistic programs or systems. SWBC also rejects the mood altering psychotropic drugs of the psychiatric community such as Ritalin, Prozac, and the like as sorcery and drug abuse.
XXIX Home School – The public schools present evolution as fact and the homosexual / lesbian / transgender lifestyle as acceptable. They promote sexual immorality by acts such as distributing condoms and denigrate God’s commandments and moral absolutes in general. We believe the best environment for the child's education is in the home under the guardianship of their parents; because of this we strongly recommend and encourage home schooling.
XXX Bible Translations – Although the Bible was inerrant in its original manuscripts, the recopying of these manuscripts has produced minor scribal errors in the numerous manuscripts that we have today. The many Bibles translated from these manuscripts all contain minor translation errors, along with the scribal errors. These errors, which make up less than one tenth of one per cent of the total Bible, are included in the translations as a matter of honesty, but in no way confuse any of the Biblical doctrines, nor lessen its supreme authority as the only book that is God’s Word. Although some translations are better than others, we reject any elitist divisive attitude that tries to communicate that there is only one correct, flawless, usable translation, e.g., "KJV only."
I The Holy Scriptures – We believe the Christian Bible – the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, excluding the apocrypha – to be the only verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek writings, infallible, and God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21), therefore:
II GOD – The Godhead is one Triune God, eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Word (Son), and Holy Spirit – Eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections, yet different in role and authority. This is best understood by seeing that man, who is created in God’s image and likeness, is also triune – soul, body, and spirit – but cannot separate his parts at will, as God can. The Father is the “soul” part, with all authority, as man’s soul is his authority – where the will resides and decisions are made (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Titus 2:13; Acts 5:3, 4; John 8:42; Gen. 1:26).
III The Person and the Work of Christ
a. The eternal “WORD,” the “image” and “form” of GOD, “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature,” “emptied Himself” of His Godly power and attributes and “taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” became Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, the Son of God, while still God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary while she was still a virgin, in order that He might further reveal God and redeem sinful men (Isa. 9:6; John 1:1, 14; Luke 1:35; Phlp. 2:6, 7; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3).
b. The Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as our representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Col. 2:13, 14; Rom. 3:24, 25; Rom. 4:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24).
c. The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 9:24; 1 John. 2:1, 2).
IV The Person and Work of God the Holy Spirit
a. God the Holy Spirit is He who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them for the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; 5:5; 1 Cor.12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13, 14; 4:30).
b. He is the Divine Teacher who guides all believers in all truth; and it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit (John 16:13; 1 John 2:20, 27: Eph. 5:18).
V The Sinfulness (Depravity) of Man – Man was created in the image and likeness of God, but because of sin the race fell, inheriting the sinful nature, and man thus became depraved and alienated from God. Although man is now depraved (and through his own efforts in 'righteous works' is utterly unable to remedy his lost and fallen condition), God places a portion of truth within all men (Rom. 1:19), and expects each man to respond to this truth within by seeking the Lord (Acts 15:17; Acts 17:27). If a man suppresses the truth (Rom. 1:18), God declares that the man is “without excuse" (Rom. 1:20), and He is not obligated to provide more truth. Sinful man has the responsibility to seek God. He who seeks will find (Matt. 7:7). He who continues to reject the knowledge of God is given over in the lust of his heart, to degrading passions, and to a depraved mind (Rom.1:24, 26, 28).
VI Salvation – The eternal penalty for our sins is separation from God in a literal flaming torment (HADES–ABYSS, then the LAKE OF FIRE). Salvation from this deserved penalty is provided as a "free gift” purchased by the suffering of the LORD JESUS CHRIST to the point of death on the cross (Phil. 2:8-11). God's grace offers this "gift of eternal life" to ALL. Man receives this “gift" when he exercises his responsibility to “BELIEVE" that he does and always will deserve to be in hell forever. He must then “BELIEVE” (have faith in, trust, rely on, rest in) the fact that Christ's suffering was sufficient payment of the eternal penalty for ALL of his sins – past, present, and future (John 5:24). No amount of “good works,” or “sacraments,” will get you saved, keep you saved, or prove that you are saved. We reject the TULIP teachings made popular by John Calvin.
VII The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
a. All the redeemed, once saved, are saved eternally by God's plan and power, and thus are secure in Christ forever. You cannot “sin away,” “lose,” “fall away from,” ‘reject,” or “return” that which is ETERNAL – your salvation. (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 1 Peter 1:5).
b. It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; this privilege however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for the flesh (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
c. Those who do not understand or believe in eternal security do not understand or believe the GOSPEL. Eternal Security IS the necessary conclusion to truly believe the gospel of the GRACE of God. Those that reject this security are lost (John 10:28-29; Rom. 4:4-8; Gal. 2:4, 3:1-14, 5:1-4; Eph. 1:13-14; Col. 2:10-14; Titus 3:5-7; Heb. 11:1).
VIII Unbiblical Gospel Clichés – SWBC rejects the use of Christian clichés such as “accepting Jesus in your heart,” “opening the door of your heart,” “making a commitment, “ “praying a sinner's prayer,” “giving your life to Jesus,” “asking Jesus into your heart,” etc., which are totally unbiblical in their origin. These clichés only serve to confuse the unbeliever and, since they are unbiblical, they must be viewed as distortions of the true gospel (Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Cor. 11:4).
IX The Two Natures of the Believer – Every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for the victory of the new (divine) nature over the old (sinful) man, or “carnal” nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All claims to the eradication of the old (sin) nature in this life are unscriptural (Rom. 6:13; Rom. 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:1-15; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John. 1:1-10). The saved person who is living carnal (according to the old nature) will be disciplined by their heavenly Father (Acts 5:1-10; 1 Cor. 11:29-32; Heb. 12:5-11).
X Separation – God commands believers to be separate:
a. The saved are not to be bound or yoked in relationships with unbelievers, e.g., marriage, false religions, business partnerships, etc., (2 Cor. 6:14-18: Rev. 18:4).
b. The saved are to “turn away, keep aloof, withdraw, avoid, reject, not associate with, and not even eat with," other saved who refuse correction in their morals or doctrines, yet they are not to be regarded as enemies, but admonished as brethren (Rom.16:17; 1 Cor. 5:11; 2 Thes. 3:6,14,15; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Ti.3:10, 11).
XI The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
a. God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts. The elders’ teaching gifts of evangelist and pastor are necessary for the equipping of the saints today (Eph. 4:11-13). However, God has given other gifts to the saints that include: teaching, service, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy, (Rom. 12.6-8). It is the proper working of all these gifts that causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (1 Cor. 12:12-27). The Spirit gifts listed in I Cor. 12:7-11, along with the gifts of apostle and prophet, gradually ceased with the completion of the Bible (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 13:8-10; 2Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12).
b. God hears and answers the prayers of faith for the sick and afflicted in accord with His own will (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14,15; James 5:14-16).
XII The Church
a. The universal church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual assembly made up of all those who have put their faith in the blood of Christ (His sacrificial death) as their only means of salvation and thus forever possess eternal life (Acts 2:23-31; Eph. 1:22, 23; 5:24-27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2).
b. The establishment of local churches with elders as leaders is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17; 1 Tim. 3:1 - 13, Titus 1:5-11).
c. The local church elders are responsible to equip the saints for the work of service (Acts 14:23; Eph. 3:10; 4:11-14; Tit. 1:5).
d. Believers are commanded to submit to and obey church elders (Heb. 13:17).
XIII Church Titles – Jesus commands us to not be called, or to address anyone, as (our spiritual) "father," "rabbi," "master," "leader," "teacher," or "doctor." Leaders in the church are never to be referred to by any of these titles, although they may hold such a position and/or be gifted as a leader or teacher. The following reasons are given: (1) Christ is our Teacher and our Leader--to be replaced later by the Holy Spirit, (2) all saints are brothers (the early church leaders were addressed as brothers or fellow bond-servants), and (3) God is our Father. The elders in the church are to be "teachers," and they are to be "leaders.” They are to fulfill the position, but reject the title. A fourth reason given is that titles of honor often produce haughtiness and arrogance. That is why Jesus condemned them in the church; yet, in the world, these titles are acceptable. We have earthly fathers and grandfathers. We also have those in the medical professions whom we refer to as doctors, and those who are master plumbers and electricians, trail guides and leaders (Matt. 23:6-12; Luke 2:46; Jn. 1:38; 14:16, 17; 16:12-14; Eph. 4:11; Col. 4:7,9,10,11; 1 Tim. 3:2; Heb. 13:17,23; 1 Pet. 5:12; 2 Pet. 3:15; Rev. 1:9).
XIV Church Ordinances – There are two ordinances instituted by Jesus Christ for the Church Age believers:
a. Water baptism is the immersion, in water, of believers, as a public testimony to their faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. The believer must be able to communicate an understanding of these truths before baptism. That is why there is no mention of infants or young children being baptized found in the Bible (Rom. 6:4, 5; Acts 8:12; 36-38; 10:47, 48).
b. The Lord's Supper is the commemoration of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. It should always be preceded by solemn self- examination, and we should continue to remember Him this way until He comes (1Cor.11:23 -28). [These ordinances are not in any way part of the salvation plan, as erroneously taught by Calvin, Luther, the Roman Catholic Church, and others. There are no other memorials commanded by Christ, taught in the scriptures, or practiced by the apostles.
XV Church Discipline – All personal grievances between believers, whether legal, moral, ethical, or doctrinal, shall be reconciled according to the scriptural rules in Matthew 5:23-25; 18:15-17; Luke l7: 3,4; Acts 15:2-6; I Cor. 5 - 6:8; and Gal. 6:1. The discipline of SWBC is entrusted to the elders by the Word of God, and shall be exercised according the principle of Christian love, as in Gal. 6:1:
a. Members are expected to demonstrate special loyalty and concern for one another. When a member becomes aware of any offense that is considered sin, he is to go alone to the offending party and seek to restore his brother. Before he goes, he should first examine himself. When he goes, he should go with a spirit of humility and have the goal of restoration.
b. If reconciliation is not reached, a second member or two (preferably one a deacon or elder) is to accompany the one seeking to resolve the matter. This second step should also be preceded by self-examination, and exercised in a spirit of humility with the goal of restoration.
c. If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in subsections a. and b. have been taken, the elders, as the church representatives responsible for putting down murmuring, shall hear the matter. If the matter is not resolved during the hearing, such members who refuse to repent and be restored are to be barred from the fellowship and the assembly of the church.
d. A matter may not be heard by the church unless the steps outlined in subsections a. and b. have been taken, except in the case of a public offense where there is absolutely no question of guilt.
e. If an unrepentant offending party is removed from the church, all further contact with him must be for the sake of restoration (except contact due to authority situations within households, with fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, and children, which cannot be avoided; or other situations that are unavoidable).
XVI The Personality of Satan – Satan is a fallen angel, the author of sin. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Job 1:6, 7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Matt. 4:2-11; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
XVII Dispensationalism – The Bible can only be accurately interpreted, “rightly dividing the Word of Truth,” by using the dispensational approach. Dispensations are the different time frames in the Bible, such as when Adam and Eve were in the garden, the time from Moses to Christ’s resurrection, the Church Age, the Millennium, etc., where God tests mankind in different ways. All teachings outside of dispensationalism are rejected, such as the extreme teaching known as “hyper-dispensationalism," which is the teaching that opposes either the Lord's Supper or water baptism as a scriptural means of public believers’ testimony for the church of this age (Acts 2:41,42; 16:31-33; 18:8; 1 Cor. 1: 13-17).
XVIII The Second Advent – The Second Advent of Christ is a two-part event. The first part is the "Blessed Hope" – the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, coming for His redeemed ones in the clouds –the “HARPAZO" or "RAPTURE.” The second part is His subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish His millennial earthly Messianic kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel (Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; Rev. 20:1-6; 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18, 5:9;).
XIX The Eternal State
a. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men – the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26; Rev. 20:5, 6, 12, 13).
b. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where they consciously await resurrection – when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be forever with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17).
c. We believe that the redeemed of both the O.T. and N.T. will be rewarded for their works and holiness as believers (Dan. 12:2-3, 13; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10). (Forgiveness from the penalty of our sins – eternal punishment in the lake of fire – is not a reward, but a free gift – eternal life.)
d. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment in Hades until resurrection. Then, with soul, spirit, and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark. 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6, 7; Rev. 20:11-15).
XX Creation – 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 (Genesis 1-2; Ex. 20:11).
XXI Authority and Government – We believe that in this present Church Age God has ordained certain areas of human authority, consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church; 3) the state. The purpose of these institutions is to provide for human needs, authoritatively encourage and enforce obedience to God’s Word – the Bible, and to appropriately punish disobedience – or sin. Every person (including the authorities themselves) should be subject to these institutions, as long as the institutions follow Biblical principles. God has given each institution specific Biblical authority and responsibilities and balanced them with the understanding that any transgression of Biblical principles may give the other institutions the right to infringe upon them – to correct them or administer God’s discipline according to the guidelines of Matt. 18:15-17; Rom. 13:1-7 and 1 Cor.6:1-6. In this present Church Age, neither the home nor the church has the authority to carry out public incarceration or capital punishment. Neither the home nor the state has the authority to determine sound Biblical doctrine. The private homes, being the smallest spheres of authority, make up both the state and the church and are to be subject to them in areas that do not violate Biblical precepts and sound doctrine. The authorities of both the home and the state are to be under the authority of the local church elders, the church being God’s highest authority in this present age. It is the church elders who “keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.” It is only the church that is “the pillar and support of the truth,” the “restrainer of lawlessness” in the world, and has God’s promise that “the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18; Acts 4:18, 19; Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-6:5; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-17; Rev. 1:20, 22:16).
XXII Human Sexuality, Authority, Clothing, and Hair
a. We believe that God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of the marriage bond between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8, 9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom 1: 26-32; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).
b. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Rom.7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23).
c. 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 in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and evangelists – elders, and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for ordination by the church (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12).
d. We believe that there are to be distinctions between male and female clothing. Special care should be given to modest dress, especially with women (Deut. 22:5; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 2:9).
e. We believe that there are gender correct hair lengths for men and women. Long hair on a man makes him dishonorable. A woman with short hair disgraces herself. The woman’s head is to be covered (long hair); her long hair is given to her in place of a mantle (I Cor. 11:1-16; Rev. 9:7, 8).
XXIII Divorce and Remarriage – We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Desertion is considered divorce. To initiate divorce (leave or put out your spouse) is sin, and remarriage of a Christian who has initiated a divorce while being a believer is regarded as adultery. One who has been deserted or put out has the right to file for divorce, since their mate has already divorced them. Divorced men, or divorced men who have remarried, may hold positions of service in the church – elder or deacon – if they did not desert their mate, or initiate the divorce (Matt. 5:31,32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:11-12;Luke 16:18; I Cor. 7:10-16, 27-28).
XXIV Abortion – We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teachings that abortions of pregnancies are acceptable due to rape, incest, birth defect, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well being of the mother. (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).
XXV Alcohol – The abuse of alcohol is condemned in the Bible as the sin of drunkenness (as the abuse of eating food is the sin of gluttony and the abuse of sex is the sin of immorality). The general consumption of alcohol is not condemned (Num. 6:20; Deut.14:26; Isa. 25:6; Luke 7:33-34; 1 Tim. 3:3, 8; Tit. 1:7).
XXVI Giving – We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God's wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. Christians should give their offerings sacrificially and cheerfully for the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the gospel. We believe that Christians relinquish all rights to direct the use of their offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17).
XXVII Missions – The saved are obligated, commanded, and privileged to verbally proclaim the gospel in the marketplace to all mankind and to witness by word, works, and lifestyle as to the truths of Holy Scripture (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 2:14-16; 5:14-20; 1 Pet. 2:9).
XXVIII Christian Counseling – The Word of God teaches that "all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be ADEQUATE, equipped for every good work (Rom. 15:14; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:2-4). Thus, counseling for Christians is FULLY contained within the Bible. SWBC rejects all pseudo-scientific counseling systems invented by men such as Freud, Rogers, Mowrer, or Skinner, and rejects any and all psychiatry, A. A., N. A., and any other polytheistic, or secular humanistic programs or systems. SWBC also rejects the mood altering psychotropic drugs of the psychiatric community such as Ritalin, Prozac, and the like as sorcery and drug abuse.
XXIX Home School – The public schools present evolution as fact and the homosexual / lesbian / transgender lifestyle as acceptable. They promote sexual immorality by acts such as distributing condoms and denigrate God’s commandments and moral absolutes in general. We believe the best environment for the child's education is in the home under the guardianship of their parents; because of this we strongly recommend and encourage home schooling.
XXX Bible Translations – Although the Bible was inerrant in its original manuscripts, the recopying of these manuscripts has produced minor scribal errors in the numerous manuscripts that we have today. The many Bibles translated from these manuscripts all contain minor translation errors, along with the scribal errors. These errors, which make up less than one tenth of one per cent of the total Bible, are included in the translations as a matter of honesty, but in no way confuse any of the Biblical doctrines, nor lessen its supreme authority as the only book that is God’s Word. Although some translations are better than others, we reject any elitist divisive attitude that tries to communicate that there is only one correct, flawless, usable translation, e.g., "KJV only."