We are delighted that you would take the time to inquire about our church. Our church family is a friendly group of believers that want to serve the Lord with all their hearts and want to tell others what the Lord has done for them. Our goal is to preach the love of Christ to the lost and instruct believers in the principles and truth of the Bible. We would like to personally invite you and your family to visit with us sometime soon at Gospel Light Baptist Church – Where the Old Time Religion Still Works
WELCOME FROM NEW TESTAMENT BAPTIST CHURCH
Welcome
We are delighted that you would take the time to inquire about our church. Our church family is a friendly group of believers that want to serve the Lord with all their hearts and want to tell others what the Lord has done for them. Our goal is to preach the love of Christ to the lost and instruct believers in the principles and truth of the Bible. We would like to personally invite you and your family to visit with us sometime soon at Gospel Light Baptist Church – Where the Old Time Religion Still Works.
Why We Are Independent Baptist
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
The King James Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice because the Bible is inspired by God and bears the absolute authority of God Himself. Whatever the Bible affirms, Baptists accept as true. No human opinion or decree of any church group can override the Bible. Even creeds and confessions of faith, which attempt to articulate the theology of Scripture, do not carry Scripture’s inherent authority.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20,21
AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church. All human authority for governing the local church resides within the local church itself. Thus the church is autonomous, or self-governing. No religious hierarchy outside the local church may dictate a church’s beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not mean isolation. A Baptist church may fellowship with other churches around mutual interests and in associational tie, but a Baptist church cannot be a ‘member’ of any other body. Colossians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5,19,23
PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER
“Priest” is defined as one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God. Every believer today is a priest of God and may enter into His presence in prayer directly through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. No other mediator is needed between God and people. As priests, we can study God’s Word, pray for others, and offer spiritual worship to God. We all have equal access to God — whether we are a preacher or not. 1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 5:9,10
TWO ORDINANCES
The local church should practice two ordinances: (1)baptism of believers by immersion in water after salvation, identifying the individual with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, (2) the Lord’s Supper, or communion commemorating His body that He gave and His perfect blood that He shed for our sin.
Matthew 28:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11;23-32
INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY
Every individual whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty to choose what he believes is right in the religious realm. No one should be forced to assent to any belief against his will. Baptists have always opposed religious persecution. However, this liberty does not exempt one from responsibility to the Word of God or from accountability to God Himself.
Romans 14:5,12; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Titus 1:9
SAVED, BAPTIZED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
Local Church membership is restricted to individuals who give a believable testimony of personal faith in Christ and have publicly identified themselves with Him in believer’s baptism. When the members of a local church are believers, a oneness in Christ exists, and the members can endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:3
TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS
All Christian believers have the mandate, that was given by Christ, to share with others the Good News of the Gospel of what Christ has done for us in forgiving our sins and restoring our relationship with God. Matt.28:19-20
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Set Apart
We are a body of born-again, baptized believers (Acts 2:41, 47). We are independent, in that we do not belong to or answer to a board, convention, or hierarchy of any sort, but answer only to the Lord (1 Cor 10:31). We are a fundamental church and adhere only to the doctrines of the Bible. We are Baptist in our beliefs because we believe that the doctrines coincide correctly with Scripture.
Scriptures
We believe the King James Bible (1611) to be our sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice (Psalms 119:89, 2 Tim 3:16). We believe that it is inspired by God, perfect without error, and will be preserved for eternity (Psalms 12:6-7). We will not use, study, or preach from any other version. We believe the King James Bible to be the one and only Bible (Matthew 4:4).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and is a free gift and cannot be earned by our works or deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9). We know that salvation is by the repentance from our sin before God and putting our complete faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who by His grace loved the sinner and shed His blood on Calvary so that our sin debt may be paid in full (John 3:16).
Security
We believe that once a person has been saved, he becomes a child of God for eternity. Our salvation cannot be bought, sold, given away, or lost. We believe in the security of the believer (Hebrews 13:5, John 10:29).
Separation
We believe God teaches in Scripture that we are to live separate from worldly and sinful things (2 Cor. 6:17). We are to live in the world but are not to be of the world (John 15:19). We believe as Christians, once we are saved, if we disobey God’s Word or live in any way displeasing to God, this will hinder our relationship with the Lord (Psalm 66:18).
Soul-Winning
We believe as Christians it is our duty to fulfill and obey the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). We believe that the Bible teaches us to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world (Acts 1:8). We believe in fulfilling the Great Commission, we are to see people baptized after salvation and teach them the truths of God’s Word (Acts 8:37).
Second Coming
We believe that our Saviour will return for His children in what we call the “Rapture” (1 Thess 4:17). We are pre-tribulation and pre-millennial in doctrine. We believe that Christ will return as a thief in the night to gather those that are blood washed believers (1 Thess 4:17). We believe that no man can know the day or the hour of His return. We will not place a time on His return, but will live as if He would return at any moment (Mark 13:32-33).