South Swansea Baptist Church

We the members of South Swansea Baptist Church believe that this Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe and, therefore, is binding upon all members. We do believe however, that this Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible. [This document is based on the New King James Version of the Bible copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.] All literature, whether print or electronic, used in the church shall be in agreement with the Statement of Faith.
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A. The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed and, therefore, are the final authority of faith and practice. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The translation of the Scriptures used by the church shall be interpreted according to normal grammatical-historical meaning. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)
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B. Dispensationalism

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in context and in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations - the law, the church, and the kingdom - are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Genesis 1:28; II Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2-10)
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C. The Godhead

We believe in one triune God, creator of all things, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Genesis 1:1-31; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:10, 26; II Corinthians 13:14)
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1. The Person and Work of God the Father

God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. (I Corinthians 8:6)

He is the only absolute and omnipotent ruler in the universe. He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. (Psalm 103:19)

He is Spiritual Father to all believers. (Romans 8:14, II Corinthians 6:18)

He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events. (I Chronicles 29:11)

He is neither author nor approver of sin. (Habakkuk 1:13), nor does He lessen the accountability of moral, intelligent beings. (I Peter 1:15-17)

He saves from sin all those that come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ; He adopts as His own all those who come to Him; He becomes, upon adoption, Father to His own. (John 1:12, Romans 8:15)
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2. The Person and Work of God the Son

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 2:24; I Peter 1:3-5)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1-2)
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3. The Person and Work of God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:13-14)

We believe that He is the divine Teacher and Intercessor who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 1:17-18; Ephesians 5:18; I John 2:20, 27; Romans 8:26)

We believe that God is sovereign in the granting of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry. (Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11, 28; Ephesians 4:7-12)

We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit (such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing) were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. Ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. (I Corinthians 13:8; I Corinthians 14:21-22)
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D. The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God; but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23)
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E. Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by placing personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (that is, the persistent and unrepentant resistance against the work of the Holy Spirit and his message concerning salvation through faith in Jesus Christ) are forgivable. (Matthew 12:31-32; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-10)
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F. The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

We believe that once saved, all the redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5)

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word. However, Scripture clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an opportunity for the flesh. (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
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G. The Church

We believe that the local church, which is part of the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again believers. (John 3:3; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27)

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; Acts 20:28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4; Acts 20:28; I Corinthians 3:9,16; I Peter 5:1-5)

We believe that the local church is to proclaim the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Mark 16:15)

We recognize water baptism by immersion, and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of the church. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:3-4; I Corinthians 11:23-26)

We believe men are to be spiritual leaders, pastors and deacons, of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for ordination by the church. (I Timothy 3:1-13)
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H. Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and inappropriate appearances. (Romans 12:1-2; Romans 14:13; I Corinthians 6:19-20; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; I John 2:15-17)
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I. The Second Advent (Coming) of Christ

We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ, Who will rapture His church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Millennial Kingdom. (Psalm 89:3-4; I Thessalonians 1:10; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10, Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:1-6)
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J. The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; John 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13)

We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6)

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection. When the soul and body are reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matthew 25:41-46; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15)
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K. The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a fallen angel, capable of manifesting himself in various forms, and that he is the author of sin, tempter, and deceiver, leading to the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Matthew 4:2-11; Matthew 25:41; John 8:44; Revelation 20:10)
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L. Creation

We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24 hour days. We reject as unscriptural: Evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory and Theistic Evolution and any other theory of origin that differs from the description of creation as recorded in the book of Genesis. (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11)
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M. Civil Government

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) government. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church and government are sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:21-25; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 2:13-14)
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N. Human Sexuality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery, appearance, or intent. (Leviticus 18:1-30; Psalm 139:13; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 5:28; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1, 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8)

We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:6-12; Hebrews 13:4)
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O. Family Relationships

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children the spiritual disciplines. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6, 15; I Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; Ephesians 6:1-4)
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P. Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, convenience, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:44)
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Q. Euthanasia

We believe that life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes the taking of a human life contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are disproportionate to their expected outcome can be a legitimate reason for refusal of treatment. (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21)
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R. Love

We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also non-believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:44-47; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10, 17-21; Romans 13:8-10; I John 3:17-18)
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S. Lawsuits Between Believers

We believe that Christians bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes do so to their own shame. We believe the church possesses all the spiritual resources and discernment necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe that a Christian should do all without malice or slander. (Matthew 18:15-20; I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31-32)
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T. Missions

We believe that God has given the church the Great Commission to proclaim the gospel to all nations. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means at home and abroad to reach and disciple the lost. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20)
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U. Giving

We believe that every Christian, as a good steward, is obligated to financially support his local church. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, and that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the various ministries of the church. We believe that an individual Christian relinquishes all rights to the Church to direct the use of his tithe or offering once it is given. (Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:8-11; Acts 4:34-37; II Corinthians 9:6-7)
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25 Church Street (Gardner’s Neck Rd. at Church St), Swansea, MA 02777 -- (508) 672 – 3382