Statement of Faith
The Holy Scriptures:
We accept the Bible as the verbally (every word) and plenary (complete) inspired Word of God as contained in the original manuscripts; that all portions of Scripture are equally inspired and contain no contradictions (Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21). God’s Word is to be the only rule of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ; and that the Canon, the sixty-six books of the Bible is complete. We further believe that God has supernaturally and providentially preserved His inspired Word for every generation (Psalm 12:6-7).
By inspiration we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be. This was a one-time event in which God, once for all, delivered His truth to the church (Jude, v. 3).
By providential preservation we mean that God, through the ages, has, in His divine presence, preserved the very words He inspired. We further believe that the Hebrew Old Testament text, as found in the Traditional Masoretic Text, and the Greek New Testament text, as found in the Textus Receptus, are the true texts of Scripture and therefore are the complete, preserved, inerrant, infallible Word of God. The King James Version is an accurate and faithful English translation of the Word of God and is used in Preaching and Teaching of its ministries. There are however, exceptions for other versions that can be made through the approval of the Pastor and the leadership for the use of teaching any materials including, but not limited to: videos, text books, handouts, power point, and all other means of media and curriculum.
The Godhead:
The Bible teaches that the Godhead eternally exists in three Persons-the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature,
attributes and perfections; and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and
obedience.
(Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:25; John 1:1; John 14:16, 17; I Timothy 3:16)
The Person and Work of Christ:
The Bible teaches in the essential deity and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; that He was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary not having human father, and is true God and true man; that He is man’s only hope of salvation from sin, being the only mediator between God and man; that He died, was buried, and rose again physically from the dead the third day for our sins according to the Scriptures; that His return for His Church, the Body of Christ, which He will take with Himself into heaven is imminent; and that He will come to this earth to set up His millennial reign. The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. Isaiah (7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-4; John 10:30; John 14:6; I Timothy 2:5, 6; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:4-6; Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:
The Bible teaches 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, immersing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption at the very moment of Salvation. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14) The Bible teaches that He is the divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27) The Bible teaches that God is sovereign in the bestowal 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. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12) The Bible teaches that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healings, were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, and that 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. (1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8-10; 14:21-22)
The Total Depravity of Man:
The Bible teaches that God created man in His own image and that man sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is conscious and eternal separation from God. The Bible teaches that all men are born with a sinful nature, evidenced by sinful acts; that man is totally depraved (every aspect of man has been affected by sin) and that if he is not born again, he is eternally lost. (Genesis 1:26, 27; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Luke 16:23; Revelation 21:8; Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:12; I Corinthians 15:21, 22; Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:8)
Salvation:
The Bible teaches that a person is saved when he responds to the drawing of God through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, repents of his sin, and exercises faith by accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. The believer is kept by the power of God and is eternally secure in Christ. The Bible teaches that the scope of salvation includes forgiveness of all our sins past, present, and future: a perfect standing before God as in Jesus Christ: and the changing of our earthly body to be conformed like unto the body of our Lord at His return for His own. The Bible teaches that the attitude either of reconciliation or enmity toward God is eternally fixed at death.
The Bible teaches that there is an appointed day for the judgment of the wicked when they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, there to remain in everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (John 1:12; John 5:24; John 6:44; John 10:28, 29; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:21; Eph. 2:8, 10; I John 5:17; Romans 8:19-23; I John 3:2; II. Thessalonians 1:7-9; Hebrews 9:27; II Peter 2:8, 9; Revelation 20:12-15; Revelation 21:8)
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers:
The Bible teaches that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5) The Bible teaches that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15; Romans 6:1-2)
The Church
The Bible teaches that the local church is composed of:
(1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 16:19; Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 12; Hebrews 10:25; I Corinthians 11:23, 24; Matthew. 28:18-20)
Separation:
The Bible teaches 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 and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immoral and inappropriate appearances. (Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; 1 Cor. 6:19-20)
The Second Advent of Christ:
The Bible teaches that there will be a resurrection of all, first the just at the coming of Jesus Christ and finally the unjust after the millennium. The saints are raised to be forever with the Lord, and the unsaved will be confined for eternity in the Lake of Fire. We believe in that blessed hope (Titus 2:13), the personal, physical, 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 Messianic Kingdom (the millennial reign), which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
The Eternal State:
Satan and Fallen Angels:
The Bible teaches that Satan is a person. He was created perfect but sinned and became the arch enemy of God and His creation. He is the chief adversary of God’s children. He seeks to keep man from the Lord, and when he cannot succeed in this, he seeks to weaken the testimony of Christians. He has at his command a great host of fallen angels and demons to carry out his purposes. He is not omnipotent and can be overcome by the power of God. His doom is sealed in the Lake of Fire forever and forever. (Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah. 14:12-14; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 20:10)
Creation:
The Bible teaches that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
Civil Government:
The Bible teaches that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. 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 the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14)
Human Sexuality:
The Bible teaches that God has commanded that no intimate physical and sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage (between a woman and a woman, a man and a man, or a man and a woman). The Bible teaches that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. The Bible teaches that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4) The Bible teaches that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23). The Pastor and any pastoral staff and/or ordained members of Pleasant View Baptist Church will not perform any ceremony or sanction any union outside of the biblical view of marriage between one man and one woman that have professed and proven their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Furthermore, there will be no use of property, buildings, etc. for any unscriptural unions or celebrations. (Matt. 19:4-5; II Cor. 6:14).
Family Relationships
The Bible teaches that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12).
The Bible teaches that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves 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 spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; I Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; I Pet. 3:1-7)
Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage:
The Bible is clear that marriage is ordained by God and is to be between one man and one woman for a lifetime. (Genesis 2:18-25, Matt. 19:4-6, I Cor. 7:27-39) Men and women are not to be “unequally yoked” together in relationships which means that marriage is Biblically correct when both the husband and wife are born again believers. Pleasant View Baptist Church may be used for Wedding Ceremonies only between believers where at least one of the persons getting married are a member of the Church. Those that are interested in using Pleasant View Baptist Church for a wedding ceremony must undergo pre-marital counseling with the Pastor or a member of the pastoral staff. Furthermore, the Pastor or a member of the Pastoral Staff must have a significant part of the ceremony of all weddings conducted on the property of Pleasant View Baptist Church.
The Bible teaches that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
Sanctity of Human Life:
The Bible teaches that human life is sacred and created by God in His image. 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. Abortion is murder. In addition; any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth, or population control, are not acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44). Furthermore all human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalms 139:1-24)
Love:
The Bible teaches that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward both those who are not believers and those who oppose us. 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 the 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. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)
Lawsuits between Believers:
The Bible teaches that the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. Therefore we recommend that disputes between a church member and the church and church member and church member not be litigated in the civil courts as this is Biblically forbidden; but, if such a dispute were to arise, the matter will be arbitrated in a Biblically-based, Christian manner. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries and should seek legal action concerning matters of property, violence, sexual, and all other matters of lawless misconduct. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
Missions:
The Bible teaches that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations as well as to obey the same biblical mandate to reach those same ethnic groups in our own cities, towns, counties, state, and nation. We are to utilize each operating ministry as well as pioneer new ministries in order to “Go” to the lost rather than to wait for them to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)
Giving:
The Bible teaches that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. The Bible teaches that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, its ministries, and its missions program as well as to the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. The members of Pleasant View Baptist Church relinquish all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)
AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH
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. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members.
We accept the Bible as the verbally (every word) and plenary (complete) inspired Word of God as contained in the original manuscripts; that all portions of Scripture are equally inspired and contain no contradictions (Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21). God’s Word is to be the only rule of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ; and that the Canon, the sixty-six books of the Bible is complete. We further believe that God has supernaturally and providentially preserved His inspired Word for every generation (Psalm 12:6-7).
By inspiration we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be. This was a one-time event in which God, once for all, delivered His truth to the church (Jude, v. 3).
By providential preservation we mean that God, through the ages, has, in His divine presence, preserved the very words He inspired. We further believe that the Hebrew Old Testament text, as found in the Traditional Masoretic Text, and the Greek New Testament text, as found in the Textus Receptus, are the true texts of Scripture and therefore are the complete, preserved, inerrant, infallible Word of God. The King James Version is an accurate and faithful English translation of the Word of God and is used in Preaching and Teaching of its ministries. There are however, exceptions for other versions that can be made through the approval of the Pastor and the leadership for the use of teaching any materials including, but not limited to: videos, text books, handouts, power point, and all other means of media and curriculum.
The Godhead:
The Bible teaches that the Godhead eternally exists in three Persons-the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature,
attributes and perfections; and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and
obedience.
(Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:25; John 1:1; John 14:16, 17; I Timothy 3:16)
The Person and Work of Christ:
The Bible teaches in the essential deity and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; that He was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary not having human father, and is true God and true man; that He is man’s only hope of salvation from sin, being the only mediator between God and man; that He died, was buried, and rose again physically from the dead the third day for our sins according to the Scriptures; that His return for His Church, the Body of Christ, which He will take with Himself into heaven is imminent; and that He will come to this earth to set up His millennial reign. The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. Isaiah (7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-4; John 10:30; John 14:6; I Timothy 2:5, 6; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:4-6; Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:
The Bible teaches 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, immersing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption at the very moment of Salvation. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14) The Bible teaches that He is the divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27) The Bible teaches that God is sovereign in the bestowal 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. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12) The Bible teaches that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healings, were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, and that 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. (1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8-10; 14:21-22)
The Total Depravity of Man:
The Bible teaches that God created man in His own image and that man sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is conscious and eternal separation from God. The Bible teaches that all men are born with a sinful nature, evidenced by sinful acts; that man is totally depraved (every aspect of man has been affected by sin) and that if he is not born again, he is eternally lost. (Genesis 1:26, 27; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Luke 16:23; Revelation 21:8; Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:12; I Corinthians 15:21, 22; Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:8)
Salvation:
The Bible teaches that a person is saved when he responds to the drawing of God through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, repents of his sin, and exercises faith by accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. The believer is kept by the power of God and is eternally secure in Christ. The Bible teaches that the scope of salvation includes forgiveness of all our sins past, present, and future: a perfect standing before God as in Jesus Christ: and the changing of our earthly body to be conformed like unto the body of our Lord at His return for His own. The Bible teaches that the attitude either of reconciliation or enmity toward God is eternally fixed at death.
The Bible teaches that there is an appointed day for the judgment of the wicked when they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, there to remain in everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (John 1:12; John 5:24; John 6:44; John 10:28, 29; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:21; Eph. 2:8, 10; I John 5:17; Romans 8:19-23; I John 3:2; II. Thessalonians 1:7-9; Hebrews 9:27; II Peter 2:8, 9; Revelation 20:12-15; Revelation 21:8)
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers:
The Bible teaches that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5) The Bible teaches that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15; Romans 6:1-2)
The Church
The Bible teaches that the local church is composed of:
- A local group of believers that is autonomous, self-governing, and has no ecclesiastical organization in authority over it.
- Believers who are baptized by immersion.
- Believers who are organized. They have for their officers, pastors, deacons and such other leaders as God has given special gifts to render as a ministry to the church.
- Believers who observe the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- Believers who meet regularly for fellowship, worship, and Bible study.
- Believers who carry out the Great Commission.
(1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 16:19; Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 12; Hebrews 10:25; I Corinthians 11:23, 24; Matthew. 28:18-20)
Separation:
The Bible teaches 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 and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immoral and inappropriate appearances. (Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; 1 Cor. 6:19-20)
The Second Advent of Christ:
The Bible teaches that there will be a resurrection of all, first the just at the coming of Jesus Christ and finally the unjust after the millennium. The saints are raised to be forever with the Lord, and the unsaved will be confined for eternity in the Lake of Fire. We believe in that blessed hope (Titus 2:13), the personal, physical, 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 Messianic Kingdom (the millennial reign), which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
The Eternal State:
- The Bible teaches the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)
- The Bible teaches that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; I Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)
- The Bible teaches that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when with soul and body 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. (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)
Satan and Fallen Angels:
The Bible teaches that Satan is a person. He was created perfect but sinned and became the arch enemy of God and His creation. He is the chief adversary of God’s children. He seeks to keep man from the Lord, and when he cannot succeed in this, he seeks to weaken the testimony of Christians. He has at his command a great host of fallen angels and demons to carry out his purposes. He is not omnipotent and can be overcome by the power of God. His doom is sealed in the Lake of Fire forever and forever. (Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah. 14:12-14; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 20:10)
Creation:
The Bible teaches that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
Civil Government:
The Bible teaches that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. 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 the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14)
Human Sexuality:
The Bible teaches that God has commanded that no intimate physical and sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage (between a woman and a woman, a man and a man, or a man and a woman). The Bible teaches that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. The Bible teaches that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4) The Bible teaches that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23). The Pastor and any pastoral staff and/or ordained members of Pleasant View Baptist Church will not perform any ceremony or sanction any union outside of the biblical view of marriage between one man and one woman that have professed and proven their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Furthermore, there will be no use of property, buildings, etc. for any unscriptural unions or celebrations. (Matt. 19:4-5; II Cor. 6:14).
Family Relationships
The Bible teaches that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12).
The Bible teaches that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves 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 spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; I Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; I Pet. 3:1-7)
Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage:
The Bible is clear that marriage is ordained by God and is to be between one man and one woman for a lifetime. (Genesis 2:18-25, Matt. 19:4-6, I Cor. 7:27-39) Men and women are not to be “unequally yoked” together in relationships which means that marriage is Biblically correct when both the husband and wife are born again believers. Pleasant View Baptist Church may be used for Wedding Ceremonies only between believers where at least one of the persons getting married are a member of the Church. Those that are interested in using Pleasant View Baptist Church for a wedding ceremony must undergo pre-marital counseling with the Pastor or a member of the pastoral staff. Furthermore, the Pastor or a member of the Pastoral Staff must have a significant part of the ceremony of all weddings conducted on the property of Pleasant View Baptist Church.
The Bible teaches that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
Sanctity of Human Life:
The Bible teaches that human life is sacred and created by God in His image. 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. Abortion is murder. In addition; any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth, or population control, are not acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44). Furthermore all human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalms 139:1-24)
Love:
The Bible teaches that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward both those who are not believers and those who oppose us. 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 the 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. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)
Lawsuits between Believers:
The Bible teaches that the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. Therefore we recommend that disputes between a church member and the church and church member and church member not be litigated in the civil courts as this is Biblically forbidden; but, if such a dispute were to arise, the matter will be arbitrated in a Biblically-based, Christian manner. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries and should seek legal action concerning matters of property, violence, sexual, and all other matters of lawless misconduct. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
Missions:
The Bible teaches that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations as well as to obey the same biblical mandate to reach those same ethnic groups in our own cities, towns, counties, state, and nation. We are to utilize each operating ministry as well as pioneer new ministries in order to “Go” to the lost rather than to wait for them to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)
Giving:
The Bible teaches that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. The Bible teaches that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, its ministries, and its missions program as well as to the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. The members of Pleasant View Baptist Church relinquish all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)
AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH
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. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members.