4940 Randolph Street, Lincoln, NE 68510 402-483-4469 office@templebaptistlincoln.org

Temple Baptist Church Articles of Faith

1. The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit controlled men, and therefore, is truth without any admixture of error for its content. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian Union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions, shall be tried.

II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21

2. The True God

We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

Exodus 20:2-3; I Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; I John 5:7

3. Jesus Christ

We believe that the whole substance and strength of the Christian faith centers in Jesus Christ who in the beginning was, who was with God and who was God. We believe that all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. We believe that in Him was and is, and shall be life eternal. We believe that Jesus, the pre-existent Son of God was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son. In thus being born of a woman, Jesus Christ became humanity's son by a human birth. We believe the miracles of Christ are simple correlates of the Incarnation, literally accomplished as revealed in the Scriptures, the proper insignia of His royalty and divinity. We believe that He died for our sins, was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. We believe this man, the Lord Jesus Christ, because He ever liveth, hath an unchangeable priesthood, wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

John 1:1-4; Matt. 1:18-25; John 1:14; Acts 13:23; Rom. 1:3; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 4:15; Acts 2:22-24; I Cor. 15:1-4; Heb. 7:24-25

4. The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world; He restrains the Evil One until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.

John 14:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:4; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:4, 6; Eph. 1:13-14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Rom. 8:14, 16, 27

5. Satan

We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of eternal justice in the lake of fire.

Matt. 4:1-3; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10

6. Creation

We believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and man; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct creative acts of God in six solar days without any evolutionary process; that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race.

Gen. 1-2, 4-5, 10-11; Col. 1:16-17; John 1:3

7. Gender, Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female which together reflect the image and nature of God; that acceptance of one’s biological sex is an acceptance of the image of God within that person; that marriage is the joining of these distinct, complementary genders into one flesh; that the term marriage has only one meaning—the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, complete union, as delineated in Scripture; that marriage is ordained of God for mankind’s welfare and happiness; that the institution of marriage is honored by the Lord Jesus Christ; that the marriage bed is honorable and God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other; that God has commanded that all intimate sexual activity be engaged only within a marriage; that marriage promotes the bearing and rearing of children and exercise of stewardship over creation.

Gen. 1:26-28, 2:18-25; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 12:28-31; 1 Cor. 6 & 7; Eph. 5:21-33; Heb. 13:4

We believe that the essence of a Christian wedding is the Divine blessing of the bride and groom as they exchange vows in worship of God; that, for the believer, marriage in the Lord is only to another believer; that the husband is charged to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her and the wife is to respect her husband; that God’s order of authority in the Christian family is Christ, the Head, followed by the husband, then the wife, and, finally, the children; that it is against the command and teaching of the Word of God to in any way change or pervert this order.

Gen. 2:18-25; Matt. 5:16, 19:4-6; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:21-33, 6:4; Phill. 2:14-16

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, premarital sex, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, transgender behavior, bestiality, incest, pornography, etc.) is sinful and offensive to God; that from the beginning, God intended for a husband and wife to be permanently united during their lifetime, thus separation and divorce are contrary to God’s perfect will; that remarriages may only be between those whose previous spouses have passed away; that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ; that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity; that we must repudiate hateful and harassing behaviors or attitudes directed toward any individual which are not in accord with Scripture.

Lev. 18; Matt. 15:18-20; Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor.; Rom. 1:18-32; Matt. 19:4-6; Phill. 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 5:22; Acts 3:19-21; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31

8. Sanctity of Human Life

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. 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.

Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of human life. Abortion is murder. The advent of Jesus Christ as a child expresses the sanctity of God’s gift of life.

Euthanasia and suicide are the direct taking of innocent human life by action. God regards as sin the taking of any human life by assistance, abuse, or suicide. God will therefore hold accountable those who deny His sovereign authority over life.

The Bible teaches that God alone is both giver and sustainer of all life, that God alone has sovereign power over life, that He alone reserves the right to determine its beginning and ending, and that all human life is created expressly for God’s own purpose and will. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life at every opportunity.

God’s Grace and Forgiveness—While we desire to speak clearly on these issues where our culture has become so confused, we also want to speak just as clearly regarding God’s grace and forgiveness. The Bible teaches us to view abortion and euthanasia as sins with serious consequences, and yet they are sins for which our Lord Jesus died. For those who have participated in these sins and who also later repent, God offers forgiveness and healing through Jesus Christ.

Gen. 9:6; Exod. 20:13; Job 31:15; Psalm 127:3; Psalm 139; Jer. 1:5; Luke 12:6-7; Cor. 5:10; 1 John 1:9

9. Fall of Man

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but by choice, and therefore, under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

Gen. 3:1-6, 24; Rom. 1:18-32; 5:1-19

10. Atonement for Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the Divine Law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sin in His own wonderful body on the tree; having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and allsufficient Saviour.

Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24-25; John 3:16; Matt. 11:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; I John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21

11. The New Birth

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again, that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus, that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with Divine Truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

John 3:3, 6-8; II Cor. 5:17-19; I John 5:1; Acts 16:30-33; II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13

12. Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification.

a. That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness.

b. That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed to us.

Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:1, 9

13. Faith and Salvation

We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation.

Acts 16:31; John 3:16; 5:24

14. The Local Church

We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are Pastors, and Deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from interference of any hierarchy or individuals or organizations and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the Local Church is final.

Acts 2:41-48; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11; Acts 20:17-28; II Tim. 3:17; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-25

15. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He come, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination.

Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16; Col. 2:12; I Cor. 11:23-28

16. Security of the Saints

We believe that all who are truly born again, are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ.

Phil. 1:16; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39; I Peter 1:3-6; Jude 1

17. The Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved, and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18; I John 5:19; Rom. 7:16; Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32; Luke 6:25; Matt. 25:24-41; John 8:21

18. Civil Government

We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth.

Rom. 13:1-7; II Sam. 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Acts 15:20; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18

19. The Resurrection, the Personal Visible, Pre-tribulation (Pretribulational), Pre-millennial Return of Christ and Related Events

a. We believe in the bodily resurrection.

Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6.

b. The Ascension.

Acts 1:9-11; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb.12:2

c. The high priesthood.

Heb. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10

d. The second coming.

John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16; James 5:8; Heb. 9:28

e. The resurrection of the righteous dead.

I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:22; 42-52

f. The change of the living in Christ.

I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20-21

g. The Throne of David.

Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30

h. The Millennial reign.

I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1; Isa. 11:4-5; Rev. 21:14; Rev. 20:6