Florence Baptist Temple

We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired of God, and inerrant in the original writing, and that because of their origin and purpose they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life and all areas to which they speak. (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16, James 1:22-25, 2 Peter 1:3-8).

In one living and true God, who is an infinite and omniscient Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth (Exodus 20:2,3, Psalm 147:5) and is worthy of all possible honor, trust and love. God eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father is God (Romans 1:7), the Son is God (Hebrews 1:8) and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3).

That the Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally, not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own image and was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species; that all animal and vegetable life was an intentional and voluntary act on the part of God (Genesis 1-2).

That Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of Mary, a virgin, and is true God and true man. Jesus Christ is not a created being but has existed from eternity and was active in the Creation of the world (John 1:1, 8:56-58). Jesus Christ was supernaturally born into this world by a virgin (Matthew 1:23), became flesh and dwelt among men (John 1:14), was tempted yet remained without sin and is completely deity yet also fully human (John 12:45, Philippians 2:5-8) and is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

That man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also that spiritual death which is separation from God: and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and, in the case of those who reach the age of moral responsibility, are sinners in thought, word and deed (Genesis 3, Romans 3:10, 23, 5:12-17).

That the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood (Isaiah 53, Ephesians 2:8,9, Hebrews 2:14-18). His death on the cross satisfies the righteousness and justice of God, making it possible for man and God to be reconciled and man's sins to be forgiven him (Romans 3:22-26, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

In the 'Eternal Security' of the believer: that it is impossible for one born into the family of God ever to be lost (John 1:12). Believers are kept by the power of God (John 6:39-40, 10:28-29) and the sufficiency of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and therefore can have assurance of their salvation and future home in heaven (1 John 5:13, John 6:37, Romans 8:31-39).

In the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there as High Priest and Advocate (Matthew 28:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).

That the Church of our Lord is a visible, local, self-governing body of believers who have been baptized (Acts 2:41-47) of whom Jesus Christ is the head (Ephesians 5:23) and that there are only two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper, both of which are administered only to believers. The true mission of the church is to preach the Gospel, baptize believers and assist them in spiritual growth that results in a life of Christian maturity (Matthew 28:19-20).

In the literal fulfillment of the prophecies and promises of the Scriptures which foretell and assure the future regeneration and restoration of Israel as a nation (Genesis 12:1-3, Ezekiel 37).

That all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God (John 1:12, John 3).
In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost (Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 16:19-31, John 3:18, 36).

That Jesus Christ is coming again to take His church out of the world (John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), at which time the tribulation begins and will end at His coming to earth to rule and reign for 1,000 years as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:11-21).