Articles of Faith, Page 1

In order to establish a firm doctrinal foundation, we have set forth these Articles of Faith (Ephesians 4:14). The Articles of Faith shall always be based upon the infallible Word of God.

Upper Cross Roads Baptist Church is an independent, fundamental, Bible-believing Baptist church, holding to the inerrancy of the Scriptures, and proclaiming the gospel message of salvation free to all who have faith in the blood of Christ alone, apart from works. We are pre-millennial and dispensational in our interpretation of the Scriptures, as set forth in these Articles of Faith.

A. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture, that the Bible is the Word of God, inerrant in the original manuscripts, and that it is the supreme and final authority in faith and practice. The Bible is complete in sixty-six books, nothing can be added to or taken away. Although the Bible is not primarily a science book , where reference is made to science, it is accurate; and although it is not primarily a history book, it is historically accurate.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 22:18-19

B. THE TRINITY

We believe that God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections; and executing distinct but harmonious offices.

Exodus 15:11; Matthew 28:19-20; John 1:1-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 1 John 4:13-14

1. God the Father

We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity, the Supreme Being, that He is a spirit, perfect in all attributes, including: Sovereignty, Holiness, Love, Mercy, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience, Eternality, Immutability, and Truth. He is the Author of our Salvation, having resurrected His Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead.

Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 45:5-6; Malachi 3:6; John 4:24; Romans 11:33-34; James 1:17

2. God the Son

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, being conceived by the virgin Mary through a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit; and that He was wholly God and wholly man. He lived a sinless life, performed miracles, was crucified, died, was buried, and arose bodily from the dead the third day. He ascended to heaven, was exalted, and took His place at the right hand of God the Father, where He ever lives to make intercession in behalf of all who come to God through Him.

Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20, 23; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3, 14; John 10:30; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25

3. God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures, and, through illumination, He enables believers to understand the truth. The work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. His ministries in the present age are: restraining evil in the world; convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; regeneration of believers; indwelling all who are saved, thereby sealing them unto the day of redemption; and filling those for power and service who are yielded to Him. We believe that some gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues, prophecy, and the gift of miraculous healings, were temporary, and ceased when the canon of Scripture was complete. However, during this present age, the Lord does heal the body in answer to believing prayer, but only according to His sovereign will and for His glory.

John 14:16-17, 26 16:7-11; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 13:8-10; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, 5:18; James 5:14-16; 2 Peter 1:21

C. CREATION

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, that the universe was created in six literal days, that it is to be accepted literally, not allegorically nor figuratively. Man and each kind of plant and animal were created directly by God, not through an evolutionary process over interminable periods of time, or from lower to higher forms.

Genesis 1:1-31, 2:1-22; Exodus 20:11; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6 John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6

D. SIN

We believe that sin is disobedience to God, whether willful or unknown. Sin entered the human race by Adam's voluntary transgression of God's command and submission to Satan. The wages of sin is death. Therefore, by Adam sin entered the human race, and death by sin, so that death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.

Sin separates man from God and resulted in the curse of the entire creation. If persisted in, sin will result in the complete and final ruin of the person who does not forsake it and experience the new birth.

Because of God's Holy nature, He cannot compromise on sin; however, because of the blood of Christ, He can and will love, forgive, and restore sinners who repent and confess their sins, and that includes all sins.

Genesis 2:17, 3:1-6, 3:14-19; Ezekiel 18:4; Psalm 51:1-19; 66:18; Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 3:10, 23; 5:12-17; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:5-10; James 1:14-15, 4:17; 1 John 1:9

E. MAN

We believe that man was originally created in the image of God, having body, soul, and spirit; that conscience and will make him morally responsible to God. Man sinned, thereby incurring not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. We believe that all men are born with a sinful nature as evidenced by sinful acts, being totally depraved (the only exception being the man, Christ Jesus), and that, if not born again, they are under just condemnation to eternal punishment, without defense or excuse.

Genesis 2:7, 6:5; Isaiah 64:6; John 5:40; Romans 1:20, 3:10-18, 23, 5:12; Hebrews 9:27

F. SALVATION

We believe that it is impossible for man to save himself, it is the work of God. Salvation is freely available, by the grace of God, to all who, having been brought under conviction of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, will repent and believe. It is obtained through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ - His substitutionary death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day. Men are justified on the grounds of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, which washes away our sin. All who believe are born again, from above, by the Holy Spirit, and thereby become the children of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

Leviticus 17:11; John 5:24; Romans 5:6-9; Romans 10:9-10, 17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:7, 13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 9:11-12, 21-22; 1 Peter 3:18; Revelation 1:5

G. ETERNAL SECURITY

We believe that it is the privilege of all who are born again to be assured of their salvation. All those who are regenerated from above are sealed by the Holy Spirit and are thereby eternally secure.

John 10:27-29; Romans 8:33-39; Ephesians 1:13; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 John 5:10-13

Articles of Faith, Part II

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