What We Believe

We believe in one God, personal, infinite, perfect, and eternally existent. We further believe that there is only one, living and true God, Who is an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love.

And, in this one Scriptural Godhead are three separate Persons distinguished (the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost), but never divided; three substances but one essence. We believe that there is a Tri-Unity of Persons in this One Godhead, that is, we have a Plural God but not plurality of Gods.

REFERENCES:
(EXO. 20:2-3; 1 COR. 8:6; JER. 10:10; EPH. 4:6; PSA. 147:5; JOHN 4:24; 1 TIM. 1;17; ROM. 11:33; PSA. 90:2; 83:18; EXO. 15:11; REV. 4:11; MARK 12:30; 1 JOHN 5:7; MATT. 28:19; JOHN 15:26; 10:30; 17:5; PHIL. 2:5-6; ACTS 5:3-4; EPH. 2:18; 2 COR. 13:14)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ existed before all times as the eternal Word of God. In His Incarnation as the Son of God, He was “made of a woman, made under the law.”

But prior to this, He co-existed with the Father as the Creator of all things and even during His earthly ministry, He never ceased as a Deity: He was, and still is, the “fulness of the Godhead bodily” i.e., He was God manifested in the flesh!

REFERENCES:
(JOHN 1:1-18; 10:30, 38; 16:15-16; I JOHN 1:1, 7-9; PHIL. 2:5-11; COL. 1:13-22; 2:9; TITUS 2:13-14; I TIM. 3:16; HEB. 1:1-10; I JOHN 5:7; REV. 1:13-18; 13:18; 19:16)

We believe that the Holy Ghost is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in Creation, and that He convicts the world of sin, of judgment and of righteousness. He also bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.

REFERENCES:
(JOHN 14:16-17; MATT. 28:19; HEB. 9:14; JOHN 14:26; GEN. 1:1-3; JOHN 16:8-11; 15:26-27; ACTS 5:30-32; JOHN 3:5-6; ROM. 8:14; EPH. 1:13-14; LUKE 24:49; JOHN 16:13; 14:26; ROM. 8:16; 2 THESS. 2:13; 1 PET. 1:2; ROM. 8:26-27)

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or human development through perpetual periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”

We reject the theory of men relative to the creation and existence of the universe and of all life in the world. It is our conviction that Darwinian evolution, and all its modifications, is a religion of unenlightened men devoid of a Saviour; that it is neither scientific nor in accord with absolute truth!

REFERENCES:
(GEN. 1:1; EXO. 20:11; ACTS 4:24; COL. 1:16-17; HEB. 11:3; JOHN 1:3; REV. 10:6; ROM. 1:20; ACTS 17:23-26; JER. 10:12; NEH. 9:6; GEN. 1:26-27; 2:21-23; 1:11, 24; I TIM. 6:20)

We believe that Satan formerly was the anointed cherub, Lucifer, who once covered the throne of God. He was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honor. But through pride and ambition to be like the Most High, he fell and drew after him a host of angels to rebellion and sin. Satan is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world.

We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power behind the present apostasy, the lord of the anti-Christ, and the author of all the principalities and powers of darkness. He is destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in everlasting lake of fire, a place prepared for him and his angels.

REFERENCES:
(ISA. 14:12-15; EZE. 28:14-17; JUDE 6; 2 PET. 2:4; EPH. 2:2; JOHN 14:30; 1 THESS. 3:5; 1 PET. 5:8; MATT. 4:1-3; 13:25, 39; 1 JOHN 3:8; REV. 12:10; 2 COR. 11:13-15; MARK 13:21-22; JOHN 2:22; 4:3; 2 JOHN 7; REV. 13:13-14; 2 THESS. 2:8-11; REV. 12:7-9; 19:11, 16, 20; 20:10; MATT. 25:41)

We believe that man was originally created after God’s image; he was created in innocence under the law of his Maker. But by voluntary transgression, he fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, both by nature and by choice. Before him is a certainty of a future judgment and an immortal destiny. He is therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. However, he can be restored to God’s favor only through God’s provision in Christ as applied by the Holy Spirit.

REFERENCES:
(GEN. 1:26-28; 3:1-6, 24; 5:1-3; EXO. 4:11; PSA. 8:4-8; ROM. 5:19; EPH. 2:3; ROM. 3:10-19; EZE. 18:19-20; GAL. 3:22; ROM. 1:18, 20, 28, 32; EPH. 2:1; HEB. 9:27)

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man has ever been born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.

REFERENCES:
(MATT. 1:18-25; LIKE 1:35; ISA. 7:14; GEN. 3:15; GAL. 4:4; MARK 1:1; JOHN 1:14; 1 COR. 15:47; PSA. 2:7; 1 JOHN 5:20)

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, Who by appointment of the God the Father, freely took upon Him 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 sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting for us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust – Christ the Lord – bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and making intercession for His church; that in His human perfection he is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Saviour.

REFERENCES:
(EPH. 2:8; ACTS 15:11; ROM. 3:24; MATT. 18:11; JOHN 3:16; 1 JOHN 4:10; PHIL. 2:7-8; HEB. 2:14; 2 COR. 5:21; 1 COR. 15:3, 20; ROM. 3:25; GAL. 1:4; ISA. 53:4-7, 11-12; JOHN 10:18; 1 PET. 2:24; 3:18; HEB. 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2; 1 JOHN 2:2)

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration is a spiritual resurrection in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth a person who is dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, which is a free gift of God; that the new birth is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

REFERENCES:
(JOHN 3:3, 6-7; TIT. 3:5; 2 COR. 5:17, 19; EPH. 2:1, 4-5; COL. 2:13; 2 PET. 1:4; ROM. 6:23; JOHN 1:12-13; 1 JOHN 5:1; ACTS 2:41; GAL. 5:22; EPH. 5:9)

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the complete and ultimate pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life based on impartation of God’s righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but wholly through faith alone in the Redeemer’s blood; that God’s righteousness is imputed unto us not by the works of the law but entirely by faith in Christ Jesus.

REFERENCES:
(ACTS 13:39; ISA. 53:11; ROM. 1:17; 4:1; 5:1, 9; TIT. 3:5-7; GAL. 3:11; PHIL. 3:7-9)

We believe in God’s electing grace and that saved sinners constitute the elect of God; that the blessings of salvation are offered free to all by the gospel of the grace of God; that it is the immediate duty and privilege of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own free will and inherent rejection of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

REFERENCES:
(1 THESS. 1:4; COL. 3:12; 1 PET. 1:2; TIT. 1:1; ROM. 8:29-30; MATT. 11:28; ISA. 55:1, 6-7; REV. 22:17; ROM. 10:13; JOHN 6:37; JOHN 3:15-16, 18, 36; 5:40; 1 TIM 1:15)

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and are inseparable, wrought in a person’s heart and soul by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of his guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation in Christ, he turns to God with godly sorrow, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, and openly confessing Him as his only and all-sufficient Lord and Saviour.

REFERENCES:
(ACTS 20:21; 2 COR. 7:10; LUKE 18:13; ROM. 10:9-10, 13; 2 PET. 3:9; PSA. 51:1-4, 7; ISA. 55:6-7)

We believe in the three-fold sanctification of the believer: positional, experiential, and ultimate. We believe that God has set apart a believer for a sacred purpose as His purchased possession through the work of the Holy Spirit, and by the power of His word.

REFERENCES:
(ACTS 20:32; I COR. 1:2; 6:11; ROM. 6:1-10; 8:29-30; HEB. 10:10-14; COL. 1:26-28; JOHN 17:17; I THESS. 5:23; I JOHN 3:1-3; JUDE 24-25)

We believe that the local church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; that said church is given the privilege of observing the ordinances of Christ; exercising the gifts, rights and duties invested in it by His word; that its officers by ordination are pastors (or elders) and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church is found in the so-called Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the church; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded; and Fourth, to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

We hold that the local church has the absolute right of independence and self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true local churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that every local church is the only judge of the extent of its cooperation. On all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is absolutely final.

The command to give the gospel to every creature in the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given exclusively to the local church. 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 the authority of the local church.

REFERENCES:
(ACTS 2:41-42; 1 COR. 11:2; 12:4, 8-11; EPH. 4:11; ACTS 14:23; 6:5-6; 1 TIM. 3:1-13; MATT. 28:19-20; 1 PET. 5:1-4; JUDE 3-4; EPH. 5:23-24; COL. 1:18; ACTS 15:22; 1 COR. 16:1-2; 2 COR. 8:23-24; 1 COR. 5:11-13; 6:1-3; MATT. 28:18-20; MARK 16:15; ACTS 1:8; ROM. 10:13-15.)

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, 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 to a new life; that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of local church membership and the Lord’s Supper; in which members of the local church, by the sacred use of unleavened bread and fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.

REFERENCES:
(ACTS 8:36-39; ROM. 6:3-5; MATT. 28:19; ACTS 2:42; 1 COR. 11:23-28)

We believe in the preservation (or security) of the believer in Christ; that he is being kept by the power of God; that even though he may occasionally fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby he grieves the Holy Spirit, bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and temporal judgment on himself, yet he shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation; that the believer has been granted an everlasting life and not a temporary conditional life.

REFERENCES:

(JOHN 6:40; 10:28-29; COL. 1:21, 23; ROM. 8:16, 28-39; 10:12-15; 1 PET. 1:2-5, 13; PHIL. 1:6; 1 JOHN 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2; 1 COR. 5:1-5)

We believe in the preservation (or security) of the believer in Christ; that he is being kept by the power of God; that even though he may occasionally fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby he grieves the Holy Spirit, bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and temporal judgment on himself, yet he shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation; that the believer has been granted an everlasting life and not a temporary conditional life.

REFERENCES:
(MAL. 3:18; GEN. 18:23; PROV. 11:31; ROM. 1:17; 6:17-18; 1 COR. 15:22; ACTS 10:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:29; 5:19; 1 PET. 4:18; GAL. 3:10; ROM. 6:23; 7:6; PROV. 14:32; LUKE 9:26; 16:25; MATT. 7:13-14; 25:34, 41; JOHN 8:21)

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that rulers and magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.

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; it is accountable to God for its acts. God is the Supreme Sovereign and to seek to place man or state above is to limit the sovereignty of God. We believe that we should, as much as lieth in us, “live peaceably with all men.” We, however, will resist peaceably all efforts of civil governments to control the churches of Jesus Christ.

We further believe that the so-called “separation of church and state” is just one of function; it is in fact a division of labor; the church is to be a minister of grace; the state is to be a minister of justice. Both are branches of God’s government and both are to serve the Lord. God never intended for the church and state to exist independently and separately. The church is to influence the state towards godly and righteous rule. The state is to protect the good and prevent the evil by enforcement of just and righteous laws.

REFERENCES:

(Rom. 13:1-7; 2 Sam. 23:3; Exo. 18:11; Prov. 8:15-16; Acts 23:5; Rom. 12;17-18; Matt. 22:21; Tit. 3:1; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:13-14, 17; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 23:10;)

We believe that scriptural giving, which consists of free will tithes and offerings, is both a blessed privilege and responsibility of the local church; that a believer is commanded to bring his gifts into the common treasury of the church upon the first the day of the week, according as he had purposed in his heart and not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

REFERENCES:
(2 COR. 8:7; 9:7; 1 COR. 16:2; HEB. 7:2, 4; ACTS 4:34-37)

We believe in and accept the holy scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily the third day according to the scriptures; that He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God; that He alone is our merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God; that this same Jesus Who was taken up into heaven shall also in the same manner come again personally, bodily and visibly; that the dead in Christ shall rise first; that the living saints shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; and that Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He had put all enemies under His feet.

We believe that this return will take place in two parts, First, He will come as a thief in the night to call out His Church; He comes to the clouds to receive His own; Secondly, He will come publicly, seven years later, to the earth, to conquer His enemies and set up His literal one-thousand-year reign, after which, time will be done away with and all things will be made new.

REFERENCES:
(MATT. 28:6-7; LUKE 24:39; JOHN 20:27; 1 COR. 15:4; MARK 16:6; LUKE 24:2-6; ACTS 1:9, 11; LUKE 24:51; MARK 16:19; REV. 3:21; HEB. 2:17; 5:9-10; 8:1; 12:2; 8:6; 1 TIM. 2:5; 1 JOHN 2:1; JOHN 14:3; MATT. 24:27, 42; 1 THESS. 4:16-17; 1 COR. 15:42-44; 51-53; PHIL. 3:20-21; LUKE 1:32; REV. 20:1-6; ISA. 11:4-5; PSA. 72:8)

Whereas “the last days” are set forth in scripture as “perilous times,” and recognizing that these days are upon us, and seeing a departure from the word of God, be it resolved that we, the leaders and members of Send the Light Ministries make the following declaration of our biblical position: We declare ourselves to be old-fashioned Baptists and oppose the unscriptural Interdenominational, New Evangelical, Ecumenical, Charismatic movements of our day; we stand and “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

We oppose the modern liberal trends of our day that tend to deny the true Christian faith; we reject the concept that our church should cooperate with unbelievers and apostate churches even if by so cooperating beneficial results may seem to be produced; we declare ourselves to be a biblically separate, autonomous Baptist church, rather than a denominationally controlled local church.

We further believe that the believer is to be in the world, but not of it, having no friendship, affiliation, nor identification with it; We believe in the personal separation of the individual believer from every sinful form and acts of worldliness; that a believer should abstain and flee from all appearance and practices of evil that would dishonor the Saviour; that he should withdraw himself from those whose beliefs are contrary to sound doctrine; that he should not company with those who live disorderly.

REFERENCES:
(2 TIM. 3:1; JUDE 3; ROM. 16:17; 2 THES. 2:15; 3:6; 1 COR. 16:13; 2 TIM 3:5; TIT. 3:10-11; 2 JOHN 10; 1 THES. 5:22; 1 PET. 2:11; 2 COR. 6:14-18; EPH. 5:6-7, 11; JOHN 17:14, 16; JAS. 4:4; 1 JOHN 2:15.)