OUR BELIEFS | Bbcotx.org

What We Believe

The New Testament Church

We believe the church began with the calling out of the twelve apostles by Jesus Christ and was empowered on the day of Pentecost. We believe the local church is composed of members who have been saved and baptized according to the command of Christ, and have voluntarily united together for the purpose of worship, fellowship, service, and the Lord's Table. We believe all true believers will be taken up at the Rapture, just prior to the Tribulation (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 1:15; Acts 2:41-43; Acts 11:15; Acts 20:28; I Corinthians 15:51-58; Ephesians 5:25-30; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Timothy 3:4-15)

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 of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6:24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,3; Romans 1:18,20,28,32; 3:10-19;5:12,19

The Last Days

We believe in the literal interpretation of the Scriptures in their grammatical and historical context. We believe in the pre-tribulational Rapture of the church saints, followed by the seven-year Tribulation. We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth and His literal rule of one thousand years is the Great White Throne judgment and the new Heaven and new earth (I Corinthians 15:51-58; I Thessalonians 4: 13-18; I Thessalonians 5:1-9; )

The Virgin Birth

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1: 18-25 ; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; I Corinthians 15:47; I John 5:20

The Devil (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 greatest tempter, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power of darkness; destined however to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son and to the Judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. ( Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3, 13:22, 25:41,27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; II Corinthians 11:13; I Thessalonians 2:8-11; I Peter 5:8; II Peter 2:4; I John 2:22, 3:8, 4:3; II John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10, 13:13-14, 19:11, 16, 20, 20:1-3, 10)

The Bible

We believe the Bible to be the revealed Word of God,fully and verbally inspired of God. We believe the Scriptures to be the infallible inerrant Word of God, as found within the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation. We believe God not only inspired every word, but preserved them through the ages. We believe the authorized King James Version is the preserved Word of God for the English-speaking people. (Psalms 12:6-7, II Timothy 3:15-17, I Peter 1:23-25, II Peter 1:19-21)

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit of God is a person who has personality and all the attributes of deity. We believe the Holy Spirit has always been involved in the affairs of mankind. However, we believe he has a special ministry which began at Pentecost and will continue till the rapture. This ministry includes convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. The Holy Spirit was also sent to regenerate,sanctify, seal and fill all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. (John 3:5-6, 14:16, Acts 1:5, Acts 11:15 I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20, 12:13)

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 is the immediate duty 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 inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-18,36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29-30; 10:13; I Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 3:12; I Thessalonians 1:4; I Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; I Peter 1:2; Revelation 22:17

God

We believe in one God, who is eternal, self-existent, infinite and immutable. We believe He has one nature, one essence, and one substance, yet manifests Himself to man in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, I Timothy 1:17, James 1:17, I John 4:4)

The Son

W believe Jesus Christ to be the one and only Saviour of mankind. We believe Jesus to be eternally God and posses all attributes of deity. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was virgin-born, that he is God incarnate, that the purposes of the incarnation were to reveal God, to redeem men, and to rule over Gods kingdom. We believe that Jesus Christ never relinquished any attributes of his deity, but simply veiled them. We believe He lived a sinless, perfect life,at the end of which he was offered for all mankind as a substitution for man's sin. It was activated by His death through the shedding of His blood on the cross and was accepted by God upon His resurrection.We believe he ascended into heaven after His resurrection to be seated at the right hand of the Father, waiting for the time of receiving His church at the rapture, and returning seven years later to earth to rule and reign as king for 1000 years. (Psalm 2:7-9, Isaiah 7:14, 43:11, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:25, Luke 1:26-35, John 1:1, 1:3, 14, 18, 29, Romans 3:19-25, 5:6-15, Phillipians 2:5-11, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, I Timothy 2:5 3:16, Titus 2:10-15, Hebrews 7:26, 9:24-28, I Peter 1:19, 2:2 I John 1:3 Revelation 20:1-6