The Doctrinal Statement of the Church
These be the confessions of those who are called Spiritual Baptist concerning the very aspect of Christian living and life. The General Assembly of The Spiritual Baptist Church of Canada in 1996 adopted the document hereinafter called the “Doctrinal Statement of the Church” as the principle document for all members of the Church.
I. Concerning the Scriptures
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We believe that the Holy Bible is our Chart and Compass, being the complete revelation of God’s Word to man. The word Bible comes from the Greek word Biblia (Books) from Biblos (Book). Therefore, the Holy Bible is a complete collection of sixty-six books in the Old and New Testaments, is without error in its original writing, and is the sole authority for faith and practice. Second Peter chapter one verse twenty establishes the basis by which we can interpret the Holy Bible as follows “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” It is a Gift from God Himself.
II. Concerning the True God
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We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God (Elohim) being the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That the Triune Godhead consists of three distinct persons, equal in essence but having distinct work. Namely God the Father, being the same as in John 14:10,11 “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works...Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.”; God the Son, being the same as in Luke 3:22 “. . .and a voice came from heaven, which said, thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”; and God the Holy Spirit, being the same as in John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things of your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Proclaiming this truth in Matthew 22:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost”; the Trinity revealed.
III. Concerning Creation
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We believe in the Book of Genesis account of Creation and that it is to be accepted literally and not figuratively. We believe that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness and did not evolve from any lower form of life.
IV. Concerning the Fall of Man
We believe that man was created a little lower than the angels, in the image and likeness of God, and was given dominion over all His creation with understanding and free will. We believe that man, although created without sin, by one transgression fell so that all mankind are now sinners by state, disposition, and act, justly under condemnation.
​V. Concerning Salvation
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We believe that salvation is the eternal life that abideth in every believer who confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour. 1 John 3:15. We believe that the act of being saved is the very transaction every sinner must experience when they have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life. The only way to obtain this salvation is that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and acknowledge that He laid down His life for sinners.
VI. Concerning the Blessings of Salvation
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We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel. It is the duty of all to accept the gospel by faith and all who do so receive all the benefits of salvation and are secure eternally. We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11.
VII. Concerning Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is presented in three phases in Scripture. The believer is positionally sanctified, being progressively sanctified and will be completely sanctified at his glorification. Thereby speaking in tongues is a sign of divine communication with the Lord through progressive sanctification.
VIII. Concerning the Local Church
We believe that a local, visible Church is a congregation of baptized believers associated together by a common faith and fellowship in the Gospel, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Rites be duly ministered according to Christ’s ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. Each Local Church is an extension of the Head Church in its Doctrine, Discipline and Worship. Each congregation recognizes its own democratic government, and the influence perpetuated down from its highest authority for carrying out the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.
IX. Concerning Baptism
We believe that Christian baptism is immersion in living water of a believer for one part and the out pouring of the Holy Spirit for the other part. Jesus Christ explained being born again in John 3:5 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The Sacrament of Baptism is mandatory for salvation and should not be denied anyone who openly confess the Lord Jesus Christ; as Philip did in Acts 8:36-38 “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Where forth the baptism of young children is in no wise accepted in the Church for a confession of their faith. This being the first Rite ordained of Christ.
X. Concerning the Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the death of Christ; given as a perpetual memorial until His Second Coming. That the physical bread and wine are spiritually transformed to the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul warns of the lighthearted misgivings of those who partake of these blessed gifts unworthily in 1 Corinthians 11:26-29 “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” This being the second Rite ordained of Christ.
XI. Concerning Civil Government and Religious Liberty
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society. Church and state should be separate, the state owing the church protection and full freedom. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.
XII. Concerning the State of the Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. There will be a resurrection of the righteous unto eternal blessing and of the unrighteous unto eternal judgement. “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalm 1:6.
XIII. Concerning Future Events
We believe that the blessed hope of the believer is the imminent, personal, pretribulation, premillennial appearance of Christ to rapture the church. The second coming of Christ occurs after Daniel’s seventieth week and results in the introduction of the David Kingdom on earth. Following the Kingdom, the Great White Throne Judgement will occur at which time the bodies and souls of the wicked shall be reunited and cast in to the Lake of Fire.
XIV. Concerning Heresy and Apostasy
We believe that the Word of God teaches total and complete separation from all forms of heresy and ecclesiastical apostasy.
XV. Concerning Mourning
We believe that mourning as an act of separation from the world, is a spiritual pilgrimage made in seclusion, that draws the believer closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. Mourning or fasting is an essential part of a believer’s growth in faith and should not be avoided. Those who seek acceptance into the ministry must first travel this path of spiritual enlightenment and enrichment. When asked why his disciples do not fast? Jesus answered in Matthew 9:15 “. . .Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”
XVI. Concerning Worship
We believe that the forms of worship as laid out in the Book of Rites & Worship rightfully reflects the divine communication between the Godhead and the believer. That the Church having many members are one body in Jesus Christ; and worship to the Godhead can only be perpetuated through the spirit. Jesus acknowledging this declared to the woman at the well in John 4:21-24 “. . .Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
XVII. Concerning Attire
We believe that believers should be attired appropriately according to their ministry in the Church; that believers should present themselves holy and acceptable before the Lord in both body and spirit. Having our women's heads covered at all times while present in the house of worship and particularly during prayer. While our men ought not to have the heads covered completely while in the house of worship and particularly during prayer. That the body is the temple of the Living God and should be persevered for His purposes. The Apostle Paul wrote concerning this in 1 Corinthians 11:4,5 “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.” We should, even in our dress and habit, avoid everything that may dishonour Christ.
XVIII. Concerning Man’s relations with Nature
We believe that man was given divine instruction to have dominion over all the creations of God and that such instruction includes a harmonious relation with all things created. The behaviour of man toward nature is a direct reflection of the relationship between the Godhead and the believer. Psalm 8:1-9 reads as follows “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! . . .When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”
XIX. Concerning Tithes and Offerings
We believe that it is the duty of every believer to give the Lord one tenth of all their income as is commanded in Malachi 3:8, 10 “ Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. . . Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”
XX. Concerning Spiritual Gifts and Works
We believe that the Holy Spirit fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost the promise of Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.”; and hath give unto some the ability to perform works and exercise spiritual gifts for special service. We believe that all spiritual gifts and works are given for the edification of the whole church in all righteousness and holiness. The four main lists of gifts differ from one another, and each is clearly incomplete (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28-30; Eph. 4:7-12 and 1 Pet. 4-10.)