Articles of Faith

Below, you'll find an overview of our doctrinal statement.  The Scriptural references listed below each section are, by no means, exhaustive; rather, they are offered for the illustration of each statement.

Section 1 – Of the Scriptures

We believe the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has the truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to men; the true center of Christian union and the supreme authority by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be tried.

1.      By the “Holy Bible”, we mean the collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but is the very Word of God.

2.      By “Inspiration”, we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.  

3.      We believe, not only in the inspiration of Holy Scriptures, but also in the “Preservation” of the Holy Scriptures.  We believe that God has chosen to preserve His Word in every age, primarily through the family of manuscripts commonly referred to as the “Textus Receptus” or “Received Text.”  This family of manuscripts is also known as, and goes by the name of the “Majority Text” and the “Byzantine Type” family.  The primary and last translation of God’s Word being preserved in the English Bible known as the "Authorized Version," commonly called the King James Bible.  

4.      We reject any and all bible translations that use the manuscripts “Vaticanus” and “Sinaiticus” as basis for translating.  Compass Baptist Church will not consider or tolerate any Pastor, Associate Pastor or Deacon that does not believe that the King James Bible is the complete Word of the living God.  Any church officer that will not abide by this doctrine is subject to removal from office and expulsion from membership.  

5.      The King James Bible will be used as the standard for all preaching and teaching in the English language.  No other “bible” may be used as such in any ministry working with English-speaking people.  

                        Psalm 19:7-11                         Proverbs 30:5-6                       Romans 15:4
                        II Timothy 3:16-17                  II Peter 1:19-21

Section 2 – The True God

We believe there is one and only one, living and true God, 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 that in the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

                        Genesis 1:1                              II Corinthians 13:14                 Ephesians 4:6
                        I Timothy 1:17                          I John 5:7                                Psalm 119:140

Section 3 – The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; and, in His relationship to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; for He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He 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.

                        Genesis 1:1-3                          Matthew 28:19                        John 16:11
                        Ephesians 1:13-14                   II Thessalonians 2:6-8             II Thessalonians 2:13

Section 4 – The Devil or Satan 

We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed Heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he 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 Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions and the chief power-back of the present apostasy, the lord of the antichrist and the author of all the powers of darkness – destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and the judgment of an eternal Hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.

                        Isaiah 14:12 -15                       Ephesians 2:2                          I Peter 5:8
                        Revelation 12:7-9                    Revelation 19:16-20                Revelation 20:10 

Section 5 – Of the Creation

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 developments through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all the animals and vegetable life were made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind”.

                        Genesis 1:1                              Genesis 1:24                             John 1:3
                        Hebrews 11:3                          Revelation 10:6 

Section 6 – The Fall of Man

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but by choice and therefore, under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

                        Genesis 3:6, 24                        Romans 1:32                            Romans 3:10 -19
                        Romans 5:12                            Romans 5:19  

Section 7 – Of the Virgin Birth

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

                        Isaiah 7:14                                Mark 1:1                                  Luke 1:35
                        John 1:1, 14 

Section 8 – Of the Atonement for Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the meditorial 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 sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting 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 been raised from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven and, uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection, He is, in every way, qualified to be the suitable, the compassionate and an all sufficient Saviour.

                        II Corinthians 5:21                   Ephesians 2:8-9                       Philippians 2:8
                        Hebrews 7:25                          Hebrews 12:2                          I John 2:2

Section 9 – Of the Grace in the New Creation

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sins, is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation 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.

                        John 3:6-8                               Acts 16:30 -33                         Romans 6:23
                        II Corinthians 5:17                    Galatians 5:22  

Section 10 – Of the Freeness of Salvation

We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth; but his own depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; but which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

                        Isaiah 55:6-7                           Matthew 11:28                         John 3:15 -16
                        John 3:18 

Section 11 – Of Justification

We believe that the great gospel which Christ secures to us as believers in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on the principles of righteousness; that it is not bestowed in consideration of any works or righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood is His righteousness imputed to us.

                        Habakkuk 2:4                          Acts 13:39                                Romans 4:1-8
                        Galatians 3:11                          Titus 3:5-7 

Section 12 – Of Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God, thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and sufficient Saviour.

                        Psalm 51:1-4, 7                       Isaiah 55:6                               Acts 20:21
                        Romans 10:9-10                      Romans 10:13 

Section 13 – Of the Church

We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a 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; that its officers of ordination are Pastors or Elders, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.

We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission; first to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct as He commanded.  We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of discipline and of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.

                        Matthew 28:19-20                  Acts 2:41 -42                           Ephesians 4:11
                        Ephesians 5:22-23                   I Timothy 3:1-13 

Section 14 – Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.

The Lord’s Supper in which the members of the church, by sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, proceeded always by a solemn self-examination.

                        Matthew 3:16                           Matthew 28:18-20                  John 3:23
                        Romans 6:3-5                          I Corinthians 11:23-28            Colossians 2:12 

Section 15 – Of the Perseverance of the Saints

We believe that such persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare; that they are kept by the power of God though faith unto eternal salvation.

                        John 10:28                                John 10:29                                Romans 8:23
                        Romans 8:25-29                      Colossians 1:21 , 23                 I Peter 1:5 

Section 16 – Of the Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that as such as only through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God, we are truly righteous in His esteem; while as such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are, in His sight, wicked and are under the curse and this distinction holds among men in and after death, in everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

                        Matthew 7:13-14                    Matthew 25:34, 41                  Romans 6:17-18
                        Romans 6:23                            I Peter 4:18  

Section 17 – Of Civil Government

We believe civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed except only in those 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.

                        Matthew 10:28                         Matthew 23:10                         Acts 5:29
                        Acts 23:5                                 Romans 13:7                           Philippians 2:10-11
                        Titus 3:1 

Section 18 – Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value.  Of the resurrection, we believe Christ arose bodily “the third day according to the scriptures”; that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”; “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” –bodily, personally and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall 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 hath put all enemies under his feet”. 

                        Matthew 16:19                         Acts 2:29 -30                           I Corinthians 15:4, 25
                        I Thessalonians 4:16-17

Section 19 – Of Missions

This church shall be missionary in spirit and practice, contributing to the support of missions at home and abroad. Support for missionary families or for missionary projects shall be upon the recommendation of the Pastor and Board of Deacons and approval of the church. We believe that the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to every scriptural church.

                        Matthew 28:18-20                  Mark 16:15                               John 20:21
                        Romans 10:13-15

Section 20 – Of the Grace of Giving

We believe that God’s method of financing His earthly work of spreading the gospel to all nations, the care of the churches and the support of the ministry is by the tithes and offerings of His people; that it is to be given through His church or storehouse to be distributed and directed by the leadership of the Spirit as the needs arise.

The church is to operate from the gifts and offerings as given by its members and, from time to time, as God moves upon other Christians to give to the church work.  We do not believe in using money for church operating that has come from extracurricular activities such as “bake sales”, “raffles” and etc.

                        Malachi 3:10                            I Corinthians 16:2                   II Corinthians 9:7
                        Matthew 23:23

 

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