ARTICLE 1 - NAME, PURPOSE, AND AFFILIATION
SECTION 1 - NAME
This church shall be known as
SECTION 2 - PURPOSE
Riverview Baptist Church is
organized as a church exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational
purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue
Law), including, but not limited to, for such purposes as the establishing and
maintaining of religious worship, the building of churches, parsonages,
schools, chapels, radio stations, television stations, rescue missions, print
shops, day-care centers, camps, and foreign mission agencies; the evangelizing
of the unsaved by the proclaiming of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; the
educating of believers in a manner consistent with the requirements of Holy
Scripture, both in Sunday and weekday schools of Christian education; and the
maintaining of missionary activities in the United States and any foreign
country.
This church resolves:
A. To stand unequivocally (without compromise) for the fundamentals of the faith as contained in the sixty-six books of the Holy Scriptures. (Psalm 119:160; Galatians 1:8-9; II John 1:9-11; Jude 1:3-4)
B. To worship, exalt, honor, praise, and please the only true and living God. (Psalm 5:11; 7:17; 9:1-2; 21:13; 34:1; 46:10; 57:5; 89:6-8; 92:1-2; 100:4; 107:32; 111:1; 135:13; Isaiah 44:6; John 4:23-24; Philippians 3:3; 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; Hebrews 2:9; 11:16; 1 Peter 1:7)
C. To fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ by seeking the salvation of all persons through evangelism of the local community and, through missions, the world by the proclamation of the Gospel of the grace of God embodied in Jesus Christ. (Matthew 22:37-40; 28:19; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 6:23; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I John 4:9-10)
D.
To foster the growth and development of believers into
mature disciples through instruction in the Holy Scriptures and training in the
Christian walk and witness. (Matthew
28:20; Ephesians 4:12; II Timothy 2:2;
E. To promote worship, evangelism, instruction, discipleship, love, fellowship, and stewardship among all believers. (Psalm 96:9; Matthew 20:26-27; Matthew 28:19-20; John 4:23-24; John 13:34; I Corinthians 4:1-2; I John 1:7)
F.
To encourage, as a servant of God, the employment of
spiritual gifts in this church and throughout the world. (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-14;
G. To license and ordain men to the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
SECTION 3 - GOVERNMENT
A. This church declares itself to be an independent congregational church, embracing and conforming to the principles of congregational government by its members acting corporately. The corporate membership does not relinquish, share, or delegate its authority over the church to any individual, group, body, or organization.
B.
The spiritual and temporal administration of
this church shall be under the supervision of the pastor and pastoral staff,
church staff, deacons, and trustees, subject to the approval of its membership.
SECTION 4 - AFFILIATION
A. This church is independent in the governing of its own affairs, subject only to Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, and is not associated with any church, movement, or denominational organization.
B. This church may cooperate and associate with any ministry, movement, mission, organization, or individual whose doctrine, policy, and practice is not in contradiction with its own.
C. Any attempted persuasion to compromise in cooperation shall be dealt with.
SECTION 5 – MINISTRIES
Ministries of this church are approved by vote of the membership.
ARTICLE 2 -STATEMENT OF FAITH AND COVENANT
SECTION 1 - STATEMENT OF FAITH
I. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Bible, as written in the original languages:
A. Consists of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments.
B. Is equally, fully, and verbally the inspired Word of God. (John 16:12-13; I Corinthians 2:12-13, 16; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)
C. Is inerrant. (Matthew 4:4; 2 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 1:20)
D. Is the complete and eternal revelation of God. (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; I Peter 1:25; Revelation 22:18-19)
E. Is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creed, and religious opinions shall be tried. (Romans 15:4)
F. Has a purifying effect on the mind and heart when applied daily. (John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12)
G. Shall be interpreted according to its normal, grammatical, contextual, and historical meaning; all issues of interpretation and meaning shall be determined by the spiritual leaders of the church.
II. THE GODHEAD
We believe:
A. There is one God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; II Corinthians 13:14)
B. These three are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, and co-equal in power and glory. (Genesis 1:1-2, 26; John 1:1-3, 14; 5:21; Romans 8:11; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 9:14; Revelation 4:8)
C. These three, having the same attributes and essence, are worthy of precisely the same worship, confidence, and obedience. (Exodus 20:3; John 10:30, 14:9, 16; Revelation 4:11)
D. These three perform distinct but harmonious functions in the great work of redemption. (I Peter 1:2)
III. THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE FATHER
We believe:
A. As the only absolute and omnipotent ruler in the universe, God the Father is sovereign in Creation, providence, and redemption. (Psalm 102:25; 103:19; Romans 11:36)
B. God the Father orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. (Psalm 145:8-9; I Corinthians 8:6)
C. His fatherhood involves His designation within the Trinity and with mankind. (Luke 11:13; John 1:12; 11:41-42; Romans 8:15)
D. As creator, He is father to all men. (Acts 17:29; Ephesians 4:6)
E. He is spiritual father only to believers. (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Romans 8:14-16)
F. He has decreed, for His own glory, all things that come to pass. (Ephesians 1:11)
G. He continuously upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events. (I Chronicles 29:11-12)
H. He is not the author of sin nor does He approve of sin. (Habakkuk 1:13)
I. He is not a respecter of persons; thus, all are accountable. (Acts 10:34; I Peter 1:17)
J. He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would save as His own. (Ephesians 1:4-6)
K.
He saves all who come to Him. (John
IV. THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe:
A. Jesus Christ is all that God is. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 5:11-15; Luke 6:8; 11:17; John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 11:38-44; 17:5)
B.
He is the only begotten, eternal Son of God. (John 1:1-2, 14;
C. He was actively involved in Creation. (John 1:3; I Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2)
D. He took on a fleshly body and became man without ceasing to be God. (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9)
E. He was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary. (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:31, 35)
F. He came to earth in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (John 1:18, 14:8-9; Galatians 4:4-5; Titus 2:13-14)
G. He accomplished our complete redemption through the shedding of His blood on the Cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. (Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 10:12-14; I Peter 2:24)
H. He made our justification sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Luke 24:39; Romans 4:25; I Peter 1:3-5)
I.
He ascended into Heaven and is now exalted at the right
hand of God the Father. (Acts 1:9-11;
J.
He is our high priest, intercessor, mediator, and
advocate. (I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews
V. THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe:
A. The Holy Spirit is God. (Acts 5:3, 4; II Corinthians 13:17)
B. The Holy Spirit was actively involved in Creation. (Genesis 1:2)
C. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:7-11)
D. The Holy Spirit is the supernatural agent in regeneration and sanctification. (John 3:5; I Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5)
E. The Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the body of Christ. (I Corinthians 12:12-14)
F. Every unregenerate person, the moment he exercises faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, immediately possesses the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5; 8:9; Galatians 4:6; I Thessalonians 4:8; Titus 3:5)
G. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer equally and permanently, sealing them unto the day of redemption. (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30; I Corinthians 6:19; II Corinthians 1:21-22)
H. The Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guides believers into all truth. (Romans 8:14; I John 2:20, 27)
I. The Holy Spirit, according to His sovereignty, bestows spiritual gift(s) to each believer. (I Corinthians 12:4-11)
J. It is the responsibility of each believer to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30; 5:18-19; I Thessalonians 5:19)
K. The Holy Spirit can be grieved and quenched. (Ephesians 4:30; I Thessalonians 5:19)
VI. CREATION:
We believe:
A.
The Genesis account of Creation is to be accepted and
believed to be literal in all of its aspects.
(Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Jeremiah 10:10-13; John 1:3; Acts
B. God created all that exists in six days, each day being a literal twenty-four hour period. (Exodus 20:11)
C. God, through the power of His spoken word, created all things. (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:7; Hebrews 11:3)
D. All three persons of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) were active in Creation. (Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:3; I Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:15-17)
E. Man was created directly by God, in God’s own image, and after His own likeness. (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6; I Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9)
F. Man’s creation was neither a matter of evolution nor a matter of evolutionary change of species. (Genesis 2:7, 21-23; John 1:3)
G. All animal and plant life was created by God and reproduces after its own kind. (Genesis 1:11-12, 24-25)
VII. THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN
We believe:
A. Satan is a created being who once enjoyed an exalted position in Heaven but, through pride and rebellion, fell into sin. (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19)
B. Satan is the author of sin. (Ezekiel 28:15; John 8:44; I John 3:8)
C. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man. (Matthew 4:2-11; I Peter 5:8)
D. Satan is powerful, but he is not omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent. He cannot overcome the believer who is submitting himself in faithful obedience to Jesus Christ and His Word. (Ephesians 6:11-12; James 4:7)
E. He is the god of this world. (II Corinthians 4:4)
F. He is the prince of the power of the air. (Ephesians 2:2)
G. Satan convinced one-third of all created angels to join in his rebellion and they also fell into sin. (Revelation 12:4, 9)
H. He retained all his power, and he uses demons (fallen angels), the unsaved, and carnal Christians to implement his plan. (Job 1:6-7; John 8:44; Romans 8:7; I Corinthians 3:1-4; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 6:12; Titus 1:10-11)
I.
Satan and his fallen angels shall be eternally punished
in the
VIII. THE FALL OF MAN
We believe:
A. Man was created without sin and in the image of God (mind, emotion, & will). (Genesis 1:26-27)
B. Through Adam’s voluntary sin, mankind fell into a state of sin. (Genesis 3:1-19)
C. Man inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. (Psalm 14:1-7; Romans 1:18-32; 3:9-19, 22-23, 5:12, 15; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)
D. Man incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death. (Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 6:23)
E. Man became subject to the wrath of God. (John 3:36)
F.
Man became inherently corrupt and, apart from divine
grace, utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to
God. (Romans 3:23; I Corinthians
G. With no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Romans 3:9-20)
IX. SALVATION
We believe:
A. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition for salvation. (Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9)
B. The salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of God’s grace. (Jonah 2:9; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24, 25; Ephe