Below is a brief Statement of Faith of Tree of Life Baptist Church. We invite you to contact our pastoral staff if you have any questions concerning our beliefs and stand on the Word of God.
Section 1
These Articles of Faith represent the foundational basis on which we at Tree of Life Baptist Church place all our faith and belief. In our world today we recognize there are significant differences in societal perspectives of the church than those of even a few years ago – particularly those views of the independent, fundamental, New Testament Baptist church
Section 2- the Scriptures
We believe that the Authorized King James Bible (not just a ‘version’) is the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God, and we reject and do not recognize any modern translation besides the KJB. We believe it is the absolute and final authority in all manners of faith and practice for the believer.
Section 3- God
We believe in only one God, existing in three Persons (1 John 5:7): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Trinity). God is a Spirit, and they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:25).
Section 4- Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person in the Godhead, the only begotten Son of God (John 1:1, John 3:16).
Section 5- The Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third and final person in the Godhead, co-equal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit has the responsibility to teach, comfort, intercede and reprove. He regenerates, indwells, justifies, and sanctifies the believer.
Section 6- Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God, and that he voluntarily sinned and plunged the whole human race into condemnation and death. All human beings are born with a sinful nature and as such has never been nor ever will be able or capable of redeeming themselves from the wages of sin (Romans 6:23).
Section 7- Angels and Demons
We believe that angels are perfect beings, created by God, for Him. There are three types of angels presented in scripture, the Cherubim, the Seraphim, and the Archangel. Anywhere in scripture it mentions “the angel of the Lord” is talking about the Lord Himself. The angel Lucifer, who we refer to as Satan, desired to take God’s throne from Him, and rebelled against God, taking 1/3 of the angels with him in attempting to do so. Those angels who sided with Lucifer and fell in so doing are now known as fallen angels, commonly known as demons, and Lucifer’s name is now Satan.
Section 8- Satan
We believe that Satan, the fallen angel originally known as Lucifer, is a distinct and real personality. He is the adversary of the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers the Church. He seeks to deceive, destroy, and devour those following Jesus Christ. Satan’s eternal destiny will consist of eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire.
Section 9– the Church
We believe that the local Church is a company of believers in and followers of Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, the Word, and fellowship. In accordance with scripture, we believe that there are only 2 ordinances of the church: the first one is baptism by immersion (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:29-34, Romans 6:4), and the other is the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). There are two Biblical offices of the church: the pastor (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:7-9), and the deacons (1 Timothy 1:8-13).
Section 10– Salvation
We believe that Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), plus or minus nothing. There is absolutely nothing that we can DO to save ourselves as no amount of good works will be able to make us clean and justified in the eyes of God (Titus 3:5-7). Salvation is a gift (Romans 6:23) that once it is received (John 1:12) it cannot be taken away by anyone for any reason (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, John 10:28-29).
Section 11– Separation
We believe that once a person is Saved, they are called to live the life of a believer in and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, manifesting a Christ-like life in all aspects of their lives. A believer is to be separate from the world, its influences and lusts, from false religions, from secret societies, from those who embrace false doctrine, and from evil, sin, and the appearance thereof.
Section 12– End times/Last days
We believe in a personal, pre-millennial, pre-tribulation return of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is commonly called the Rapture, when Jesus Christ returns for His Church (John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The end-time prophecies to be fulfilled are as follows: The rapture of the Church, the 7-year tribulation (Revelation 5-18) also referred to as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1-9), the second coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21), the 1000-year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20), the final judgment known as the great-white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), and the eternal kingdom (Revelation 21-22).
Section 13– Marriage
We believe that marriage is defined in the Word of God as God intended it to be, one man and one woman (Genesis 1: 26-27), created and ordained by Him for one man and one woman (1 Corinthians 11:7-12), instituted after He created Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:23-24), and emphasized by Jesus Christ (Mark 10:6-9).
Section 14– Life/abortion
We believe that life begins at conception, and from the moment a child is conceived it is a living human being, and the termination of that life (abortion) is on equal grounds with murder in the eyes of God.
Section 15– Disputes between believers
We believe that the church is fully capable of settling disputes between believers without the necessity of charges being pressed against any individuals, and possesses all the resources necessary to settle them without animosity toward either party.
Section 16– Creation
We believe God created the heaven and the earth in six literal 24 hour days according to the scriptures (Genesis 1-2), rejecting all aspects of the evolutionary model for science, history, and human psychology and physiology.