Doctrinal Statement of Hydewood Park Baptist Church I.The Scriptures We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God without error in the original manuscripts and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has the Holy Spirit of God for its author, truth as its matter, and salvation for its end; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us and therefore is, and shall remain unto the end of the world, the supreme standard by which all human conduct and creeds shall be tried. Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:18-19 II.The Trinity God is known to men as three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…executing distinct but harmonious offices in the work of redemption. A.The Father We believe in the personal existence of God, the Supreme Being, Who is infinite and perfect.He possesses the attributes of eternity; Self-existence, immutability, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, holiness, righteousness, justice, love, mercy and grace.In holy love, he created and sustains all things by His immediate presence.He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:1, 26; 21:32-34; Psalm 103:8; 139:7-10; 145:17; Isaiah 45:6; Zephaniah 3:5; Malachi 3:6; Matthew 3:17; 10:29-30; 19:26; John 3:16; 5:26; Romans 11:33; Titus 2:11-12; I Peter 1:16 B.The Son We believe in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Son of God, very God of very God; that in order to redeem fallen man from sin, He took on the form of man by the process of the virgin birth; that He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin; that He lived in perfect harmony with God and His laws; that He voluntarily suffered death and in so doing was the vicarious sacrifice for the sin of the race; that He physically and literally rose from the dead, ascended up on high, and is now enthroned at the right hand of God as the mediator between God and the sinner and as the High Priest and Advocate of the saint; that he shall come before the Tribulation and Millennium to take into his eternal presence all those who have accepted Him as Savoir and have therefore been born again. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18; John 1:14; 10:11; 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:8; I Corinthians 15:1-8; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:6; 7:26; I John 2:1 C.The Holy Spirit We believe in the Person of the Holy Spirit; that he is equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world, he restrains Satan until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and judgment; that He bears witness to the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent of new birth; that He baptizes, seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the Believer. Genesis 6:3; John 3:5; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:2, 14; I Corinthians 12:12-13; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22–23; Ephesians 3:16; 4:30; II Thessalonians 2:7 III.Man We believe that man was created in the image of God; that He has a threefold nature; physical, mental, and spiritual; that His distinctive mark is His spiritual nature; that this is of like nature to God himself and is immortal and capable of immediate knowledge of God; that conscience and will make Him morally a responsible being and that as such God deals with Him. Genesis 1:26; 2:7, 16-17; John 3:18; 14:20, 23; I Corinthians 15:44-45 IV.Sin We believe that man was created innocent, in perfect harmony with the moral government of God; that by voluntary transgression of the will of God and submitting to the devil, he broke that harmony and became sinful; that without exception, the race of man is morally corrupt; that by reason of conscience and will, the individual is guilty and merits the wages of sin which is death; and that if persisted in, sin will work out complete and final ruin to him who does not forsake it in the experience of the new birth. Genesis 1:27; 3:1-7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 1:21; 3:10-11, 23; 6:23 V.Salvation We believe that it is impossible for man to save himself; that in order to be saved, he must realize his need of the Savior, repent and receive Christ as his Savior, and then be born again; that the new birth results in a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above comprehension, not by culture, character, or the will of men, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life. John 1:12; 3:5, 7, 16; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-9 VI.The Church We believe that the Church universal is an organism, the body of Christ, those who have been redeemed out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation, who comprise the Bride of Christ. We believe that the local Church is a body of professed Believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Savior and Lord, who have covenanted together for worship, mutual edification, and to work for the spreading of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. Acts 2:41-42; 16:5; Romans 12:4-5; I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:4-6; 5:25-27 VII.The Ordinances We believe that the ordinances of the Church are two…baptism and the Lord’s Supper.Both ordinances are commanded by Christ and should faithfully be observed only by His followers.Baptism is the immersion in water of a Believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and is symbolic of our death to sin and our resurrection to a new life in Him.We believe that it is a prerequisite to Church membership. The Lord’s Supper or Communion is the highest act of worship.It is a memorial of Christ’s death for us and a symbol of His sustentation of our spiritual life and growth. Matthew 3:5-6; 28:19; Mark 16:16; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-39; 16:32-34; 18:8; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 11:23-30 VIII.The Lord’s Day We believe that God has ordained that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day because on it He arose from the dead and apostolic practice established the pattern; and therefore, every Believer is encouraged to regularly use the day for worship and fellowship with Believers. Acts 11:26; 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 10:24-25; Revelation 1:10 IX.Civil Government We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates 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 Christian’s conscience. Proverbs 8:15; Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1, 7; Revelation 19:16 X.The Righteous and the Wicked We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse, and this distinction exists both before and after death. Proverbs 14:32; Matthew 3:18; 7:13-14; Galatians 3:10; I John 5:19 XI.Resurrection of the Dead We believe that there will be a resurrection of the just and subsequently a resurrection of the unjust, that the Lord Jesus Christ will judge the quick and the dead at His coming. John 5:22, 27, 28; Acts 24:15; II Corinthians 5:10 XII.The World to Come We believe that acceptance or failure to accept Jesus Christ as Savior seals eternal destiny; that there is no second chance to believe after death, and that the future happiness of the righteous and the future misery of the wicked will be complete and interminable. Psalm 1:6; Matthew 25:41; Romans 1:20; II Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 21 & 22 XIII.The Gifts of the Holy Spirit It is our desire to obey the apostolic injunction to exercise those gifts necessary for proclaiming the Gospel and for building up the Body of Christ.We believe the gifts of teaching, helps, and administrations are to be utilized by our members for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.This local church, which strongly desires “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”, deems it necessary to clarify its position on the present “charismatic movement” as it relates to speaking in tongues.We believe God’s word teaches… A.That the gift of speaking in tongues was a miraculous ability to speak in foreign languages for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel to others and of authenticating the Gospel in its original declaration. B.That such a gift was neither an essential to prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, nor an indication of deep spiritual experience, nor of spiritual maturity. C.That baptism by the Holy Spirit occurs at the time of regeneration. D.That it is dangerous for Believers to seek a confirming “experience”; hoping, as some erroneously teach, that speaking in tongues is: 1.confirmation of salvation 2.the baptism of the Spirit 3.confirming the gift of the Spirit 4.indicative of the fullness of the Spirit The Word of God is all the confirmation needed for today.This is the message of the Word and the message each member is called upon to communicate.To teach other can only bring division, and “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” Matthew 12:25; John 3:6; I Corinthians 12:13; 12:30; 14:9; 14:21-22; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:3; 5:18; Colossians 2:9-10