Reach the Philippines

What We Believe

The Gospel and the Faith

“Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” — Jude 1:3

The Gospel

What We Preach

We preach that every person has sinned and is under the just judgment of a holy God (Romans 3:23, 6:23). We preach that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and equal with God (John 5:18), was born of a virgin, lived without sin, died on a Roman cross to bear the punishment of our sin, and rose bodily from the grave the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). And we preach that salvation is the free gift of God to whosoever will believe — by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, plus nothing (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Once received, this salvation is eternally secure (John 10:28–29). The believer is born again, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and called to live a holy life in fellowship with a local Baptist church until our Lord returns.

Articles of Faith

Our Doctrinal Position

Our family stands with the historic Independent Baptist position. The following are the convictions that govern our ministry.

  1. A.The Scriptures. The Bible is the verbally inspired, infallible Word of God. We hold to the preservation of the Word of God in the traditional Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, and we use the Authorized Version (King James Version) in all English-language ministry.
  2. B.The Godhead. One triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — eternally existent in three persons, one in essence.
  3. C.Jesus Christ. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious atoning death by the shedding of His blood, and His bodily resurrection.
  4. D.The Holy Spirit. The Agent of conviction, regeneration, indwelling, sanctification, and illumination of all who are born into God's family. We reject the charismatic movement and its tongues and sign manifestations.
  5. E.Creation & the Fall. God created the universe in six literal days. Man was created in the image of God but chose to sin; all persons inherit a depraved nature and need a Saviour.
  6. F.Salvation. A free gift of God for “whosoever will” — by grace, through faith, plus nothing. Believers are eternally secure.
  7. G.The Resurrection. Both the saved and the lost will be raised — the saved to eternal life in heaven, the lost to eternal damnation in a literal lake of fire.
  8. H.The Local Church. God has ordained the local church for the perpetuation of His truth and work. Believers should be baptized by immersion and should regularly observe the Lord's Supper.
  9. I.The Church and the People of God. The Church, the body of Christ, is composed of all who have been born again from the day of Pentecost until the return of our Lord. The Church is the present people of God on the earth, called to proclaim the gospel to every nation, to baptize disciples, and to keep the ordinances our Lord delivered to His Church. The modern political state of Israel is, in our reading of Scripture, a sovereign nation among nations — not the continuation of biblical Israel as God's covenant people. The people of God in this age are those who have been born again through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Jew or Gentile alike, gathered out of every nation, kindred, and tongue.
  10. J.The Unity of God's Redemptive Plan. God's plan of redemption, revealed progressively from Genesis through Revelation, is one unified work brought to its fulfillment in the person and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and continuing in His Church. We read the Scriptures as one continuous account of God's grace from creation to consummation, and we are non-dispensational in our framework.
  11. K.The Return of Christ. We believe in the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church will pass through the tribulation and will be gathered to the Lord before the outpouring of His final wrath upon the earth. Christ will then return in glory to judge the world and to reign.
  12. L.Biblical Separation. We stand against theological liberalism, neo-orthodoxy, new evangelicalism, and the ecumenical movement. We do not partner ministerially with those who deny the gospel or the inspiration of Scripture.

In Fellowship With

Smyrna & Heartland

We minister under the authority of our home church, Smyrna Baptist Church (Pastor Bill Adams), and through our mission board, Heartland Baptist Missions (President Bob Taylor). The Articles of Faith above largely follow Heartland's own statement, which can be read in full at heartlandbaptistmissions.org.