Cross Timbers Baptist

The ScripturesWe believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Bible, as it is in truth, the Word of God (I Thessalonians 2:13). We believe in verbal, plenary inspiration in the original writings, and God's preservation of His pure words to every generation (II Timothy 3:16, Psalms 12:6-8). We believe the King James Version is the preserved Word of God in the English language and will be used exclusively in all ministries of this local church. We believe the Bible is without error and that it is the supreme and final authority on all matters of faith and practice.The GodheadWe believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14).The Person and Work of ChristWe believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Galatians 4:4-5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5). We believe 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 (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).The Person and Work of the Holy SpiritWe believe that the Holy Spirit is the Person who reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling believers at the moment of salvation, and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14). We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing were temporary and gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. We believe that 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 prayer of believers for physical healing (II Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 13:8; Hebrews 2:3-4; Mark 16:17-20; I Corinthians 1:22, 14:21-22).CreationWe believe that the universe and all that it contains was created by the spoken Word of God according to the seven day Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally. Man was created directly in God’s own image and after His likeness, making him distinct from all other living creatures. Man’s existence was not a product of random chances, nor evolutionary change of species (Exodus 20:11; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Genesis 1:1&24&26-27; 2:21-33; Revelation 10:6).ManWe believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is a sinner by birth and by choice, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).The Way of SalvationWe believe that the clear message of salvation is “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). We believe that salvation is "by grace" plus nothing minus nothing. We believe that men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19).Eternal SecurityWe believe that those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior are eternally secure. The security of the believer is not conditioned upon one’s circumstances, emotional experiences or strength. The believer’s security rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ and God’s taking that responsibility as His own. We believe that eternal life is the present possession of every believer (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-34&38-39; I John 2:1-2; 5:11-13).The ChurchWe believe that a local church is an organized body of believers baptized by immersion upon credible confession of faith in Jesus Christ, recognizing only two offices (pastor and deacon), sovereign in polity, and bonded together for work, worship, mutual edification, observance of the ordinances, and the worldwide proclamation of the Gospel. The church is autonomous and free of any external hierarchy, with Christ as its head (Matthew 16:18-19; Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 12:12-31; Hebrews 10:25). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).The Ordinances of the Church1. BaptismWe believe that baptism is not a ministerial gift but that it must be administered under the authority of a local New Testament church, that immersion is the only scriptural method, and salvation it’s only prerequisite. It is a step of obedience and a symbol that publicly identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We reject the heretical doctrine of baptismal regeneration (Romans 6:1-5; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:36-38).2. The Lord’s SupperWe believe that the Lord’s Supper is not a ministerial gift but that it must be administered by a local New Testament church, and is to be observed in commemoration of the Lord’s death till He comes again. The unleavened bread representing His body, and the cup (non-alcoholic grape juice) symbolic of His blood are the elements used. The Lord’s Supper should be partaken of by believers who are scripturally baptized and members of this church and that only after careful self-examination (I Corinthians 11:23-32; Luke 22:14-20).Biblical SeparationWe believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).The Return of ChristWe believe the "Blessed Hope" of our Lord's return is literal, personal, visible, imminent, premillennial, and pretribulation. He will rapture the saved prior to the seven years of tribulation, and at the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His saints to establish His thousand-year reign on the earth (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6; Psalm 89:3-4).Our Eternal StateWe believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13). We believe 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; Revelation 20:4-6; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17). We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery 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 (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15).