We Believe

What We Believe

BASED ON GOD'S WORD

"Nevertheless what saith the scripture?" ~Galatians 4:30 

Here at New Heights Baptist Church, we believe that what a believer needs more than anything else are the words of God (Matthew 4:4).

Therefore, our belief system all hinges on "WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES"..
THE SCRIPTURES

We believe in the Biblical account where the Bible was in fact written by men but supernaturally inspired by the Holy Spirit of God; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

  1. By “The Holy Bible” we mean the collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written and providentially preserved does not only contain and convey the word of God, but IS the very word of God, and furthermore the words of God.
  2. By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that those writings are as certainly the words of God as they would be if God had penned them Himself. No other writings can claim to be inspired as the Bible is inspired. We do NOT believe that inspiration was LOST when translated into the King James Bible of 1611.  
  3. As God inspired His words, we believe that God preserved His words in the form of the Authorized Version or King James Bible. We believe the King James Bible to be the infallible, inspired, and inerrant word of God.

II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:15; Psalm 119:89, 105, 130, 160; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 3:4; I Peter 1:23; Rom. 15:4; Luke 16:31; Ps. 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39


Dispensationalism
When obedient to the command in the Bible to RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF GOD (2 Tim. 2:15) we learn that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Among these dispensations, three of them—the law, the church, and the kingdom—are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture.

Gen. 1:28; I Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; Rev. 20:2-6


THE TRINITY

The Nature of God

There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 45:18; I Timothy 2:5)
There is only one true God who is to be worshipped and obeyed.

God is a Trinity (I John 5:7; John 14:10,26)
The one true God exists in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who are one, coequal and co-eternal, distinct in person and function and yet not separate in authority or deity.

God is a Spirit (John 4:24; Colossians 1:15)
We learn from the Bible that God is a Spirit invisible and incorporeal, and cannot be experienced by or through the natural senses of the physical world.

God is a Person (Exodus 3:14; Exodus 6:6-8)
We know that God is a person, demonstrating both self-consciousness and self-determination.

God has Revealed Himself to man (Romans 1:18-20; Hebrews 1:1-2)


JESUS CHRIST
We know from Scripture that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is God in the flesh, and lived a sinless life on earth. His voluntary, substitutional death on the cross made full atonement for the sins of the whole world. His bodily resurrection and ascension secure an eternal home in heaven for all that are in Christ. He is returning to rapture His saints, judge the world and set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth.

The Incarnation of Christ (John 1:14)
From the Bible we know that in One person, Jesus Christ, there are two natures fully Divine and perfectly human each in its completeness and integrity, in One person forever.

The Virgin Birth of Christ (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Galatians 4:4)
We know from the Bible that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary in her virginity, as a fulfillment of the Scriptures.

The Humanity of Christ (Luke 2:52; Romans 8:3; I John 4:2)
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ possesses a body with human characteristics, except sin.

The Deity of Christ (John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:1-4)
We know from the BIble that Jesus Christ is fully God, equal in substance and essence with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

The Work of Christ (Mark 10:45)
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ came to earth becoming our Ransom, Redeemer, Reconcilor, and Ruler. That He accomplished all things God the Father ordained for Him to do and is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God waiting to claim His bride.

Christ the Ransom (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; I Timothy 2:6)
The Bible teaches that because of sin man is unable to reconcile himself to a Holy God, and that Christ delivered sinful man by providing the ransom of a sinless sacrifice which God required for atonement.

Christ the Redeemer (Hebrews 9:22-28; I Peter 1:18-19)
The Bible says that Jesus Christ redeemed sinful man with His precious blood.

Christ the Reconciler (Romans 5:10; I Timothy 2:5)
From Scripture we can read that Jesus Christ reconciled sinful man to God by His death on the cross.

Christ the Ruler
We know from the Bible that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave on the third day and later ascended bodily into heaven and is now in an exalted position at the right hand of the throne of God. He is coming again to Rapture His saints before the Tribulation and then, after His Second Coming, will establish His millennial reign.

  • Resurrection (Matthew 28:5-6; I Corinthians 15:12-20)
  • Ascension (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9)
  • Exaltation (Ephesians 1:20-21; Philippians 2:9-11)
  • Rapture (John 14:3; I Corinthians 15:51-52; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
  • Second Coming (Matthew 24:29-31, II Thessalonians 2:1-12)
  • Millennial Reign (Revelations 20:1-6)

THE HOLY SPIRIT
We see from the Scriptures the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead. He was active in the creation and inspiration of the Scriptures and in the lives of the Old Testament believers and the life of Christ. The Holy Spirit is directly involved in the life of the believer through salvation and sanctification.

The Nature of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a Person (Romans 8:27; Ephesians 4:30)
I believe that the Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force, but that He is a person possessing intellect, emotion and will.

The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:1-6; I John 5:7)
I believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal in substance and essence with God the Father and God the Son.

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

In the Old Testament (Genesis 1:2; II Peter 1:21; Exodus 35:30-31)

From the Scriptures we see that the Holy Spirit was active in the creation of the universe, revealing and recording God's message to man, and that the Holy Spirit empowered certain people to perform God given responsibilities in the Old Testament.

In the Life of Christ (Luke 1:35; Matthew 4:1; Acts 10:38; Acts 1:2)

The Bible shows that the Holy Spirit's ministry was essential in the life of Christ. His influence is evidenced in His conception, His guidance, anointing for service, the death and resurrection of Christ and instructions to His disciples.

In the Life of the Believer

The Bible says that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is revealed in the salvation and sanctification of the believer.

In Salvation (John 3:3-5; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14)

I believe that at the moment of salvation, the Spirit of God regenerates, indwells and seals the new believer as a child of God.

In Sanctification (John 16:7-8; Ephesians 5:18; I Corinthians 12:11)

I believe that after salvation, the Holy Spirit convicts, comforts, illumines, fills, and intercedes.


MAN
The Bible says that man was created by a direct act of God in His own image. Man fell from his original state of innocence by a voluntary act of his free will. Man has an inherited sin nature and is a sinner by choice. Therefore, he is under the condemnation of God and is in need of salvation.

The Nature of Man (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:16-17; I Thessalonians 5:23)
The Bible says that man is created in the image of God - man is a result of GOD'S CREATION and NOT EVOLUTIONARY THEORY. This truth is reflected in man's threefold nature of body, soul, and spirit just as God is three in one. That he was created with a freewill, and dominion over all God's creation.

The Fall of Man (Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-19, Romans 6:20)
In the Bible we learn that Adam in exercise of his free will, chose to disobey God and as the representative of mankind, brought physical, spiritual and eternal death upon every man. Because of man's sin he is totally depraved, free from righteousness, and is therefore under the just condemnation of God.


SALVATION
The Bible presents to us the truth that salvation is the free and gracious gift of God available to all mankind, whereby He restores sinful men to a right relationship to Himself on the basis of the finished work of Christ.

Grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11; Titus 3:5)
The Bible shows us that grace is the unmerited goodness and love of God for those who have forfeited it, giving us what we do not deserve, namely salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

Eternal Security (Eph. 4:30; 2 Tim. 2:11-13; Col. 2:11-14)
The Bible teaches that once a person is saved by grace, since it was a saving grace that they through human efforts and works could not earn, that they also are unable of “keeping it”. It is God that keeps our salvation for us “In Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17). As saved children of God, having been adopted into His glorious family, we are sealed unto the day of redemption, known as the Rapture. We may lose rewards in our inheritance, but we cannot lose our salvation because in that we are IN CHRIST, He cannot deny Himself. Lastly, since we know that the Bible teaches that man is a Tri-part being (I Thess. 5:23), and that at the moment of salvation, the flesh is “cut away” from the soul (Col. 2:11-14), we understand that we may sin in the flesh and we may reap the consequences, but that the sins of the flesh are no longer after salvation accounted to the soul. We do adhere to the concept often referred to as “once saved, always saved”.

Repentance (John 16:7-9; Mark 2:17; II Peter 3:9)
The Bible teaches us that repentance in salvation is a change from unbelief to belief. It is the process that leads one to recognize their unbelief as sin and turn from that sin to Christ for salvation.

Faith (Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:28, Romans 4:2-3, Romans 5:1, Romans 10:9-10)
The Bible shows us that faith is an act of the heart which involves an intellectual, emotional and volitional change, based on the recognition of biblical truth, whereby the sinner turns to Christ and trusts in Him alone as the only means of salvation.

Justification (Romans 3:28, Romans 4:2-8, Romans 5:1, 9, 18; I Corinthians 6:11)
The Bible says that justification is the judiciary act of God which occurs at salvation, on the basis of the shed blood of Christ, He declares the guilty sinner to be righteous and free from guilt and punishment. It must be understood that the flesh is never justified but rather the soul of man (I Thess.5:23).


THE CHURCH
The Bible says that the Church is the institution through which God is carrying out His plan and purpose for this age. It is revealed in Scripture in two aspects: the Universal and the Local Church. I believe that the Church is distinct and separate from the Nation Israel.

The Church, the Body of Christ (Matthew 16:18; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 12:23)
The Bible says that the Church, as a Mystery, consists of the invisible body of Christ, who is the Founder, Foundation and Head of His Church. It is comprised of all those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb and have their names written in Heaven.

The Local Church (Acts 2:41-47, II Corinthians 11:28)
The Bible says that local churches are gatherings of believers in local communities, for the purpose of fulfilling the Obligations, Ordinances and Offices of the New Testament Church. It is to be a separated, called out assembly dedicated to the purpose of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ, evangelizing the lost (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8), edifying one another (Acts 2:42,47; I Corinthians 5:1-13, I Corinthians 12:12-15, Ephesians 4:12, II Timothy 4:1-3), and sending out others to preach the Gospel into all the world. It is the vehicle by which the Lord’s will for mankind is to be carried out today. As the Scriptures are our example, we learn that the early churches had turned the world “upside down” – we attempt to do this even today! The offices of the local church are pastor (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-13; I Timothy 3:1-7; I Peter 5:2) and deacon (Acts 6:2-3; I Timothy 3:8-13), and the ordinances of the local churches are to be baptism by immersion (Acts 8:35-39) and the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-34). 


OUR ENEMY

The Nature of Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15; II Corinthians 4:4; II Timothy 2:26; I Peter 5:8; Revelations 20:10)
The Bible says that one of the angelic beings created by God was Lucifer. Because of his pride, Lucifer rebelled and was cast out of heaven along with a great host of angels. Satan and those angels who followed him are active today seeking to blind men to the gospel, tempt and deceive men to sin, and to hinder the work of God's servants. Their destiny is eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire.


END TIMES
The Bible says that the next event in fulfillment of prophecy is the imminent two-fold return of Christ. First for His Bride at the Rapture of the church, before the Great Tribulation to judge the saints. Second, at the end of the Great Tribulation to set up His Millennial Kingdom, which will end with the Great White throne judgement. Finally, after casting Satan into the Lake of Fire He will create a new heaven and a new earth.

The Second Coming of Christ
The Rapture of the Church (I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelations 3:10)
I believe in the pretribulational, pre-millennial rapture of the Church, which signifies the beginning of the Tribulation.

The Great Tribulation (Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-30)
I believe that there will be a seven-year period of the outpouring of God's wrath upon the earth called the tribulation.

In Heaven (I Corinthians 3:12-17; II Corinthians 5:10; Revelations 19:6-9)

I believe that during this time the believers will appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ to be judged for their works, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, to be eternally wed to Christ as His Bride.

On Earth (Matthew 24:29-30; Revelations 19:11-21)

I believe that during this time all who remain on earth will be judged and Israel will be purged to be made ready to receive their Messiah. This period will end with the Coming of Christ with His saints from heaven, the Battle of Armageddon and Christ conquering the armies of men and binding Satan.

The Millennial Reign of Christ (Revelations 20:1-10)
The Bible says that in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ which He will establish on earth, reigning for a thousand years. Following the thousand years, Satan will be loosed and again revolt against Christ, and will be captured and cast into the Lake of Fire forever.

The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelations 20:11-15)
The Bible says that at the Great White Throne Judgement the unbelieving of all ages will stand before God to be judged and will be eternally condemned to the Lake of Fire because their names were not written in the Book of Life.

The New Heaven and New Earth (Revelations 21:1-22:5)
The Bible says that following the Great White Throne Judgment, there will be a new heaven and new earth, and a new Jerusalem where Christ will reign as the eternal king of kings and the redeemed of all ages will dwell with Him forever.
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