But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Temple Baptist Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
The Holy Scriptures
The One True God
We believe the 66 books that make up the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the sole revelation of God. As such it is the inerrant Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts and therefore altogether sufficient as our only infallible and authoritative rule for faith and practice. The King James Version is the official translation that will be used in governance of the church.
2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
We believe in one God, absolute, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, manifesting Himself in three co‐equal Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) one in nature, attributes, power and glory.
Gen. 1:1‐27; Matt. 3:17; Prov. 30:4; Matt. 28:19;
II Cor. 13:14; John 8:14, 19; 9:14; Acts 5:3‐4.
Gen. 1:1‐27; Matt. 3:17; Prov. 30:4; Matt. 28:19;
II Cor. 13:14; John 8:14, 19; 9:14; Acts 5:3‐4.
The Lord Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ: who is the second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word and Only Begotten Son; that without any change in His divine Person, He became man by miracle of the virgin birth, thus to continue forever as both true God and true Man, one Person with two natures; yet without sin; that as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death by the shedding of His blood upon the cross, bearing there the sin of the world; that He arose from the grave in a glorified body; that as our great High Priest He ascended into Heaven, as our Savior, Advocate and Intercessor.
John 1:1,14; 3:16; 10:30; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35;
Gal. 4:4,5; Phil. 2:6-11; Heb. 4:14, 16; I John 2:1, 2.
John 1:1,14; 3:16; 10:30; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35;
Gal. 4:4,5; Phil. 2:6-11; Heb. 4:14, 16; I John 2:1, 2.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the trinity, and the divine agent in nature, revelation and redemption; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement; that He comforts, regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals and anoints all who become children of God through Christ; that He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and fills believers who daily surrender to Him. The Holy Spirit enablement to speak in tongues has ceased.
John 14:16, 17, 26; 16:7, 8; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; 13:8;
Gal. 5:16, 17; Eph. 4:30, 5:18.
John 14:16, 17, 26; 16:7, 8; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; 13:8;
Gal. 5:16, 17; Eph. 4:30, 5:18.
Satan
Creation
We believe in the existence of Satan: who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God, thus becoming utterly depraved in character, the great adversary of God and His people, the leader of all other evil angels and wicked spirits, the deceiver and god of this present world: that his powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrules all his wicked devices for good; that he was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore his final doom is certain; that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God, by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 14:12, 15; Eph. 6:12; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8;
Rev. 12:9, 11; 20:10.
Isaiah 14:12, 15; Eph. 6:12; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8;
Rev. 12:9, 11; 20:10.
We believe in the divine work of creation: that the Biblical account of origins is to be understood literally and not figuratively; that God created the existing universe with all of its intricate systems and varied kinds of organisms in six literal days; that the entire Genesis record of primeval history is to be accepted as divinely inspired and historically accurate, including the literal existence of Adam and Eve as the progenitors of all people, the literal fall and resultant divine curse on the creation, the worldwide cataclysmic deluge, and the origin of nations and languages at the Tower of Babel.
Genesis 1:1, 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 26-27, 31; 2:2; 3:1-7, 14-19;
6:1-8:22; 11:1-9 Ex. 20:11; Rom. 1:19-20.
Genesis 1:1, 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 26-27, 31; 2:2; 3:1-7, 14-19;
6:1-8:22; 11:1-9 Ex. 20:11; Rom. 1:19-20.
Man
Salvation
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living being. Taking the life of an unborn child is murder. We believe that man was created in the image of God; but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell and incurred not only spiritual death, but also physical death; and that all human beings inherit a sinful nature, and are alienated from God, and under the condemnation which God’s righteousness requires. Man is totally depraved and of himself unable to remedy his lost condition.
Gen 1:26, 2:7‐9, 16‐17, 3:1‐19; Job 3:16;
Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Jer. 1:5; 17:9; 20:15-18;
Isa. 44:24; 49:1; 64:6; Rom. 3:19‐21, 5:12, 7:15‐24, 8:5‐9; Gal. 3:22, 5:19‐21; Eph. 2:1‐2; Rom. 1:18‐2:1; James 2:10.
Gen 1:26, 2:7‐9, 16‐17, 3:1‐19; Job 3:16;
Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Jer. 1:5; 17:9; 20:15-18;
Isa. 44:24; 49:1; 64:6; Rom. 3:19‐21, 5:12, 7:15‐24, 8:5‐9; Gal. 3:22, 5:19‐21; Eph. 2:1‐2; Rom. 1:18‐2:1; James 2:10.
We believe in salvation by grace through faith. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that He rose again; and that all who repent of their sins and put their faith in Him, are justified from all evil on the ground of His shed blood, and are saved by grace through faith, wholly apart from human merit and works. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ in trusting faith are born again by the Spirit through the Word of God and thereby become the children of God. As children of God all believers have eternal life that cannot be taken, lost or given away as they are eternally secure in Christ as their Savior and God as their Father.
Gen. 3:15; Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53:6; John 1:12‐13; 3:3‐16; 5:24, 10:28, 29; Rom. 3:22‐28; 4:25; 5:6‐9; 8:9, 14‐17, 38, 39; 10:9‐13; I Cor. 15:1-3; II Cor. 5:17, 21; Gal. 3:13; 4:4‐7; Eph.1:3‐13, 2:8‐9, 4:30; I Tim. 2:5‐6; Titus 3:3‐8;
Heb. 9:22, 28; I Peter 1:18‐19, 23; 3:18.
Gen. 3:15; Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53:6; John 1:12‐13; 3:3‐16; 5:24, 10:28, 29; Rom. 3:22‐28; 4:25; 5:6‐9; 8:9, 14‐17, 38, 39; 10:9‐13; I Cor. 15:1-3; II Cor. 5:17, 21; Gal. 3:13; 4:4‐7; Eph.1:3‐13, 2:8‐9, 4:30; I Tim. 2:5‐6; Titus 3:3‐8;
Heb. 9:22, 28; I Peter 1:18‐19, 23; 3:18.
Church
Civil Government
We believe that the local church is an organized body of born again, baptized believers who rally around the great commission (to evangelize and disciple), practice New Testament principles, believe its doctrines and gather for worship. The two offices of the church are Elder and Deacon, and the two ordinances are believers baptism by immersion and the Lord’s supper. Believers baptism is an emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior Jesus Christ. We reject the notion of baptismal regeneration. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial service and has no saving efficacy. As such the elements are not the literal blood and body of Christ, nor do they contain His flesh and blood. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free from any external authority or control.
Matt. 28:19, 20; Eph. 1:22, 23; 4:11-13; 5:25-27;
Acts 2:41-47; 14:23; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 1 Tim. 3:1-13;
Titus 1:5-9.
Matt. 28:19, 20; Eph. 1:22, 23; 4:11-13; 5:25-27;
Acts 2:41-47; 14:23; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 1 Tim. 3:1-13;
Titus 1:5-9.
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. God has given each institution specific biblical responsibilities and that there is to be a separation of church and state, where the state does not establish a church nor does it infringe on the rights of the church to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience toward God.
Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1-7.
Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1-7.
Righteous Living
The Home
We believe in righteous living and godly works as evidence that salvation has taken place. Those who are born again have two natures and you may be victorious over the the old through the power of the new. As Christians we should obey the Word of God and seek the things that are above. As children of God and joint heirs with Christ we should walk in newness of life separate from worldly practices and whole heartedly devoted to the redemptive program of Christ.
Gal. 5:16; I Peter 1:14‐16; Rom. 6:1‐14, 12:1‐2; James 4:4‐5; Eph. 2:10; Col. 3:1‐17; I John 2:15‐17; Titus 2:12‐13;
I Cor. 6:15, 19, 20; II Tim. 2:3, 4, 22.
Gal. 5:16; I Peter 1:14‐16; Rom. 6:1‐14, 12:1‐2; James 4:4‐5; Eph. 2:10; Col. 3:1‐17; I John 2:15‐17; Titus 2:12‐13;
I Cor. 6:15, 19, 20; II Tim. 2:3, 4, 22.
We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. Marriage is intended to last until one spouse dies. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal before God but God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home. The husband is to sacrificially love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the leadership of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for training their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and to provide them Godly instruction through bible teaching, Christian example, formal education and appropriate discipline.
Gen. 1:26-28; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18, 22:15, 23:13-14; Mal. 2:14-17; Mat. 19:3-12; Mark 10:6-12;
Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33, 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; I Pet. 3:1-7.
Gen. 1:26-28; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18, 22:15, 23:13-14; Mal. 2:14-17; Mat. 19:3-12; Mark 10:6-12;
Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33, 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; I Pet. 3:1-7.
Human Sexuality
Future Events
We believe that God establishes biological gender, male or female, at the creation of the human in the womb and therefore disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of fornication, including but not limited to, homosexuality, bestiality, incest, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.
Gen. 1:27, 2:24, 19:5, 13, 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Jer. 1:5;
Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1, 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4.
Gen. 1:27, 2:24, 19:5, 13, 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Jer. 1:5;
Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1, 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4.
1. Rapture: Jesus will return to the earth’s atmosphere to remove the true church from the earth and receive it into His presence.
1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; Phil. 3:20, 21.
2. Tribulation: 7 year period when God sends terrible judgements on the earth. It is the “70th week of Daniel, and the time of Jacob’s trouble”.
Rev. 4-18; Daniel 9, 11, 12; Jer. 30:7.
3. Second coming of Christ: Christ comes to earth with His bride and judges and makes war.
Rev. 19; Luke 21:25-27; Isaiah 13:4-13;
Joel 2:10, 11; 3:10-16.
4. Millennium: The one thousand year reign of The Lord Jesus Christ over the earth from the throne of David in Jerusalem.
Is. 9:6-7, 11; Jer. 31:27-40; Luke 1:31-33;
1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 20:1-7.
5. Eternal State: with the passing of the present heavens and earth and the completion of the final judgments a new heaven and new earth will be created.
2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21-22:5.
In contrast the the unredeemed people are forever sealed in the second death.
Mt. 25:46; Rev. 21:8.
1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; Phil. 3:20, 21.
2. Tribulation: 7 year period when God sends terrible judgements on the earth. It is the “70th week of Daniel, and the time of Jacob’s trouble”.
Rev. 4-18; Daniel 9, 11, 12; Jer. 30:7.
3. Second coming of Christ: Christ comes to earth with His bride and judges and makes war.
Rev. 19; Luke 21:25-27; Isaiah 13:4-13;
Joel 2:10, 11; 3:10-16.
4. Millennium: The one thousand year reign of The Lord Jesus Christ over the earth from the throne of David in Jerusalem.
Is. 9:6-7, 11; Jer. 31:27-40; Luke 1:31-33;
1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 20:1-7.
5. Eternal State: with the passing of the present heavens and earth and the completion of the final judgments a new heaven and new earth will be created.
2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21-22:5.
In contrast the the unredeemed people are forever sealed in the second death.
Mt. 25:46; Rev. 21:8.