At Elkview Baptist Church, we believe…

BIBLE

We believe the Bible (Old and New Testaments) is the divinely‐inspired Word of God, infallible in its original manuscripts, complete in its written form of sixty‐six books, and is the final authority in all matters of faith. It is used for divine instruction and doctrinal content (doctrine), rebuking for wrong behavior or belief (reproof), pointing those who err back to the way of godly living (correction), and positive training in godly behavior (instruction in righteousness) so that believers may be capable and enabled to do all that God has called them to do.

GOD

We believe there is only one God, Who is eternally existent in three Persons. We believe that He is self‐existent, holy, unchangeable, loving, limitless, sovereign, righteous, present everywhere (omnipresent), all knowing (omniscient), and all powerful (omnipotent).

We believe that God has revealed Himself through His creation, His Son, and through His Word.

• FATHER: We believe that God the Father, as the First Person of the Trinity, possesses ultimate authority and demonstrates love and care for His children. God the Father searches the hearts of men, draws and calls unbelievers to Christ, and justifies and glorifies believers.
• SON: We believe that Jesus, as the Second Person of the Trinity, is the virgin born, eternal Son of God; He is fully God and fully man. He left heaven to become a man, lived a sinless life, and gave up His own body on the cross as atonement for man’s sin. He was resurrected and later ascended into heaven where He is at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for believers.
• HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. He possesses all divine attributes and that He, as the Administrator of the things of God, reveals truth, convicts of sin, gives life, regenerates, seals the believers until the day of redemption, indwells, enlightens, guides, and also enables and empowers believers to live a godly life that produces spiritual fruit through effective service.

CREATION AND EARLY HISTORY

We believe God is the Creator of all human life and has ordained the proper design for living that life on the earth He created. We believe that the first eleven chapters of Genesis are literal history of the earth. We believe that God created all things in six twenty‐four hour days. We believe that all men and women are the descendants of Adam and Eve, that God used a global flood to destroy all human life except Noah and those with him on the ark, and that God confounded the languages at Babel which eventually led to the various languages and people groups today.

MANKIND

We believe mankind is created in the image of God but sinned in the Garden of Eden. We believe that because of this condition, the human race is universally depraved and cannot meet God’s righteous standards.

We believe that since God created mankind into genders distinctly male and female, the only legitimate marriage is that between one man and one woman. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person. Once married, a man and a woman become one flesh. Sexual intimacy is only to be expressed within the bounds of such marriage. Any sexual relationship outside of these bounds is immoral and does not honor God.

SIN

All of God’s creation is affected by sin. Man, in his depraved condition, is a slave to sin. Due to the entrance of sin into the world, creation has been corrupted including, but not limited to, man’s character, desires, decision‐making, and relationships. Any thoughts, life styles, or actions (such as abortion, sexual immorality, lying, stealing, coveting, jealousy, and other examples given in Scripture) that violate God’s plan for life, marriage, and other relationships are sinful and require personal repentance. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sins, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

SALVATION

We believe salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says that all people are to repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ in order to be saved. Every individual is a sinner by birth and will be held accountable for his/her sins. Unbelievers must individually place personal faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Salvation begins the moment one places his/her faith in Christ as Savior. An individual can do nothing to earn his/her own salvation.

We believe that salvation is eternal and that all Persons of the Trinity are involved in the securing of a believer’s salvation. Believers, under no circumstance, can lose or forfeit their salvation.

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, but that the same Word clearly forbids the use of their liberty to sin.

THE CHURCH

We believe every born‐again believer is, by the invisible act of God, granted a place in the body of Christ, and that this body is biblically defined as the church.

We believe that the local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated together by a covenant of faith and in the fellowship of the gospel. We believe the church has the absolute right of self‐government, directed by the Holy Spirit, answerable only to Christ. In all matters of membership, polity, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the church is final.

ORDINANCES

We believe that there are two scriptural Ordinances, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, neither of which are required for Salvation. Baptism is the scriptural Ordinance requiring believers to be immersed in water as a public testimony of their faith and identification with Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is the scriptural Ordinance to be taken by obedient Christians. The elements represent Christ’s broken body (bread) and the blood (wine) that was shed for our sins. The elements are symbolic and in no way turn into the literal body or blood of Christ.

ANGELS

We believe angels are spiritual beings who were created to worship and serve God. Angels praise and glorify God, are God’s messengers, minister to believers, execute judgment, and do God’s bidding.

We believe that Satan is a powerful angel who sinned against God and became the enemy of God and all who belong to Him. Satan and the other angels who sinned with him did so after God declared all things good. Satan, who attempts to thwart God’s plan and purposes, is the head of the fallen angels. Satan and the fallen angels will be eternally punished in the lake of fire.

THE ETERNAL STATE

We believe in the resurrection of all mankind. Believers will be resurrected to live ultimately with Christ forever in the new heaven and new earth. Unbelievers will be resurrected and tormented for all of eternity in the lake of fire.

SPIRITUAL AND SIGN GIFTS

At salvation, the Holy Spirit gives the believer at least one spiritual gift. The gifts that He gives are defined in Scripture: prophecy (forth‐telling), ministry, teaching, exhorting, giving, leadership, mercy, helps, and administrations.

God is all‐powerful and continues to perform miracles in His will. We believe the offices of apostles and prophets have ceased. We believe sign gifts such as new prophetic revelations (fore‐telling), the speaking of tongues, healing by faith healers, and the raising of the dead were gifts used early in the church age to establish the church but ceased with the completion of the New Testament, and may be reissued for future use such as during the Tribulation.