I believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer who, by the work of the Holy Spirit in his heart, has brought forth fruit suitable
for repentance, and has come to rest upon the Lord Jesus Christ wholly and completely for his salvation; that this baptism by immersion is in the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, which is the final Name of the one true God. I believe that baptism by immersion is one of the two
ordinances that the Lord Jesus Christ left His people; that it shows in a most solemn and beautiful way the believer's faith in the crucified,buried, and
risen Lord Jesus Christ; and that it is a sign of our having died to the world, and also a sign of the new life of resurrection in which we now walk. Baptism
has no saving qualities at all about it, for it is with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that God's people are redeemed (Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:13-17; 28:19; Acts 9:18; 10:48; Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:41, 42).
I believe that the Lord's Supper is the second of the two ordinances that Christ left us and, when observed by God's people after solemn
self-examination, shows forth the Lord's death until He comes, and lifts up Christ in the church in all His love, beauty, mercy, and grace; that this
privilege of partaking of the Lord's cup is reserved to those, and only those, who by the work of the Holy Spirit in them have brought forth fruit
suitable for repentance and have come to rest wholly and completely upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their all-sufficient Lord and Saviour; and that wherever
this ordinance is observed, every believer, regardless of race, color, or creed, has the privilege to participate (Matt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 11:23-34; Acts 2:42; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).
I believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, or Christian Sabbath, and is to be kept sacred by rest, by attending the Gospel ministry, by
prayer, by meditation, by searching of heart, and by the observance of all the means of grace that God has given us. This day of rest sets forth the rest that
remaineth to the people of God (Acts 20:7; Ex. 20:8; Rev. 1:10; Psa. 118:24; Isa. 58:13, 14; Heb. 4:9).
I believe that civil government is of Divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates, or rulers, 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
Prince of the kings of the earth (Rom. 13:1-7; Matt. 22:21; I Pet. 2:13; I Tim. 2:1-3; Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Matt. 23:10; Rev. 19:16).
I believe that the local assembly, known as the church, set forth in the New Testament, is the only Divine institution established by the Lord Jesus Christ;
and that all other organizations are either extra-Scriptural or anti-Scriptural; that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His commission to the local
church; that He gave His Holy Spirit to the local church, and He leads the local church through the pastor, who is His messenger, and not through a
mission board, a school, a board of deacons, stewards, elders, or any individual (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 1:5; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22, 23; Philemon 2).
I believe all the above because it is found in God's Holy Word, the Bible, and these doctrines, or truths, have become experimental in my own heart.
I can certify with the Apostle Paul that these great truths of the Gospel as contained in the Word of God, which I preach, teach, and by God's grace endeavor
to obey, are not after man; for I neither received them from man, neither was I taught them of man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I believe that we can sum up what the Bible teaches in these five great and precious doctrines, or teachings, of the Word of God:
The Sovereignty of God, or God on the Throne; The Total Depravity of the Natural Man;
Salvation by Grace and Blood Redemption in Christ Jesus; The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit;
The Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ to Earth Again.
– Albert Pendarvis, Pastor |