Robert S. Howard & Family’s Beliefs from the King James Version Bible
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us.
Luke 1:1
Index of Articles:
1) The Scriptures
2) God
3) The Divine Trinity, The Godhead
4) The Total Depravity of Man
5) Election
6) Salvation
7) Repentance
8) How Man is Saved
9) Eternal Security of the Believer
10) The Church
11) The Blessed Hope
12) The Great Tribulation
13) The Second Coming of Christ in Glory
14) Satan
15) Spiritual Gifts
16) Christian Responsibility
17) Heaven amp; Hell
Article 1
The Scriptures:
We believe that the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God, without error, and that they are the supreme final authority for faith and practice. It is a written record and supernatural revelation of God Himself to man. The Scriptures reveal the principles by which God will judge us, and is, therefore, the true center of the Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. The Bible is absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, and without any error in its statement. We believe that the King James Version is the Word of God preserved in English, it is the only version we use and allow in our home.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 2:1-7; Revelation 22:18-19; John 10:35; Psalms 1:2; Psalms 19:7-11; Psalms 12:6-7; Psalms 119:89.
Article 2
God:
We believe there is one God, eternally existent, creator, of heaven and earth. He is manifested in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. These three are one God; eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power, equal in glory, possessing the same attributes and perfections; and worthy of the same homage, confidence, and obedience.
Isaiah 7:14; Genesis 1:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:18-19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-6; Matthew 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 5:7.
Article 3
The Divine Trinity, The Godhead:
God the Father: We believe that God the Father is the first person set forth in the Divine Trinity; that He is Almighty, merciful, just, holy, righteous, sovereign, true, is eternally existent, glorious in nature, is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. In harmony with His divine office, He loves, provides, and protects, thus exercising providential watch care over the sons of men (all humanity), and fatherly care over the Children of God (the saved).
Matthew 28:19; Genesis 17:1; Matthew 19:26; Psalms 19:9; Isaiah 6:3; Psalms 100:5; Proverbs 15:3; Psalms 139:1-6; Psalms 139:13-14; Psalms 103:13; Matthew 6:25-30; Matthew 10:29-31; Matthew 7:11.
God the Son: We believe that God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the second person set forth in the Godhead and is fully God. Jesus Christ took on Himself flesh by the virgin birth and dwelt on earth without ceasing to be God. By His incarnation, He became the unique person of the universe: The God-man, Savior, true humanity, and undiminished deity. Jesus Christ is sinless and perfect and gave Himself to redeem mankind by the substitutionary sacrifice of Himself on the cross of Calvary, where He shed His blood for all sinners. His blood paid for all sins past, present, and future. This redemption was secured by His literal, physical, bodily resurrection from the dead. After His resurrection, He ascended bodily into heaven where He is now at the right hand of God performing His ministry as a representative, intercessor, and advocate, by which He meditates for, prays for, seeks, and saves, His people.
John 1:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 9:2-28; Hebrews 10:10-14; Titus 2:14; Acts 13:38-41; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2.
God the Holy Ghost: We believe that the Holy Ghost, is the third person of the triune God was and is present in all the plan and work of God. The ministries of the Holy Ghost are: restraining evil, convincing the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, regenerating all who believe in Christ, indwelling and sealing believers, dividing gifts among the members of the church for its edification. Additionally, He endured the Church with power (baptized it with fire) on the Day of Pentecost.
John 14:16; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 John 2:20-27; John 16:8-14.
Article 4
The Total Depravity of Man:
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in the state of innocence. Man disobeyed God’s clear warning, went against God’s Word, and brought the judgment of God upon himself. Man, lost his spiritual standing before God, became dead in trespasses and sins. Now, under the penalty of sin which is death, each member of the human race is fallen, sinful, and lost. Regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely necessary. Man cannot turn over a new leaf; he needs a new life.
Gen. 1:26; Gen. 2:17; Psa. 51:5; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10-23; John 3:7; John 7:39; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 2:1-5
Article 5
Election:
We believe that Election is the sovereign initiative of God to bring salvation to His people. It is the plan, whereby, God has determined to make in effect His will. The word, election, literally means, “to choose something for oneself.” The Bible uses words such as, “choose”, “predestinate”, “foreordain”, “determine”, and “call”, to indicate that God has entered into a special relationship, with certain people through whom He has decided to fulfill His purpose of saving mankind from the awful destruction he faces because of sin.
The doctrine of election is rooted in the conviction that out of all the peoples on earth God has chosen to reveal Himself in a special, unique way to particular people. Central to this doctrine and its purpose is a covenant that God has made with those that He has chosen. This covenant is not a contract between equal partners, but rather a bond established by God’s unmerited favor and love. Within the covenant, God simply has selected certain people to fulfill His divine purposes. God’s election was first with Israel and demonstrated the gracious character of the covenant, it was not the result of Israel’s initiative, but was solely God’s decision. “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you because ye were more in number than any people;(Deut.7:6-7) Israel’s election was never intended to be a source of pride, but rather an opportunity for service. Israel, however, presumed upon God’s gracious favor, and assumed they were exempt from judgment, refusing to serve, they became a disobedient nation. When Israel rejected Christ, the covenant was extended to the Church. The Church is the heir of Israel’s election, and is referred to in the New Testament as, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people.” Again, the gracious inclusion of the Church into the covenant was entirely God’s initiative: man is not looking for God, but rather God for Man.
Jesus Christ is set forth in the Scriptures as the unmistakable Mediator of election: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” Christ is the center of election: God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Divine election is the ground and assurance of the Christian’s hope. Since God has predestined His elect for salvation, then they most assuredly are called, justified, and glorified, nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ, the incarnate Mediator between God and mankind. Again, the election is not fatalism, for God does not relate to human beings as sticks and stones. Because God created man in His own image with a capacity for faith and repentance, then God through the preaching of the gospel quickens the elect, unto repentance and salvation. We should proclaim the gospel to everyone without exception, knowing that it is only the Holy Ghost who can convict, regenerate, and justify. The doctrine of election should never become a source of moral laxity and pride, but rather a gratefulness for those who are saved.
Likewise, within the scope of His Divine providence, God has selected some for damnation, as well as those for salvation, Romans 9:11-22 and 2 Corinthians 2:15-16, portray God as a potter who has molded both vessels of mercy and vessels of destruction. His reasons for doing so are not known to us, and neither are we to presume that anyone, in particular, is damned or unworthy of hearing the gospel. God does not wish anyone to perish but rather for all to be saved. It is not our business to pry into the secret counsel of God, but rather to share the message of salvation with everyone and to be grateful that we have been delivered from darkness into light.
Matt. 22:14; Col. 3:12; Rev. 17:14; Isa. 14:1; Ezek. 20:5; Gen. 12:1-7; Deut. 7:6-7; Jer. 7:1-14; Amos 3:2; Ezek. 34:12-13; Mic. 5:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:9; Luke 6:13; Luke 18:7; Luke 23:35; Acts 15:7; Aces 9:15; John 15:16; John 17:5; Rom. 8:28-39; Rom. 9:11-22; 2 Cor. 2:15-16 ; John 3:16; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 1:1-12; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:10
Article 6
Salvation:
We believe that all mankind is sinful, and separated from God because of his sin. Man must be reconciled to God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Man is saved by God’s grace through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. None of the man’s works or efforts enters into his salvation. Salvation is a free gift. Man’s works, regardless of how good well intended, either before or after salvation, have nothing to do with salvation. “Salvation”, “Eternal Life”, and “Born Again” are synonymous terms that mean a person is saved.
2 Cor. 5:19; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 2:16; Acts 4:10-12; Rom. 11:6; Col. 2:13; Tit. 3:5; John 3:3, 16-17
Article 7
Repentance:
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn and inseparable graces wrought in the heart by the quickening Holy Ghost. The alien sinner, being deeply convicted of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, comes by the personal ministry of the Holy Ghost having his understanding enlightened so that he can see the way of salvation through Christ. The sinner repenting turns to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, supplication, and believes, surrendering himself wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus Christ, openly confessing Him before all men.
Acts 20:21-22; Mark 1:15 ; Acts 11:18 ; Eph. 2:8; John 16:8-11; Matt. 3:1-2¸ 8; Acts 3:19; Luke 13:3; Luke 18:9-14; Acts 9:6; Rom. 10:10
Article 8
How Man is Saved:
We believe Salvation is not in a plan but in the person of Jesus Christ. In order to be saved, lost sinners must be regenerated, or born again. Regeneration is a recreative act, far beyond human comprehension, wrought in the believer’s heart by the direct personal ministry of the Holy Ghost. The new birth is instantaneous, miraculous, and non-evolutionary; it embraces the divine acts of cleansing the heart from all sin, and of pardoning the soul of all guilt. In connection with the work of begetting the new creature in Christ Jesus, the dead sinner is made to live through the new birth, becoming thereby a regenerated spirit, and possessing eternal life. The new birth comes when the Holy Ghost secures repentance and belief in the gospel. The Spirit of God imparts divine life, not a mere transformation of the human life, the proper evidence of regeneration is manifested in the believer’s life in the holy fruits of obedience and faith.
John 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:16; John 1:12-13; Isa. 1:18; Tit. 3:5; Eph.2:1, and 5; Rom. 6:23 ; John 16:8-11; Matt. 7:16-18; James 2:17-20
A. We believe God loves all mankind regardless of race, birth, or actions. His love is unconditional. It is God’s will that all mankind be saved, however, all mankind will not be saved, and God knows that and loves them in spite of the fact that they remain at enmity with Him.
John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:4-5; Acts 10:34
B. We believe all have sinned. Every man, woman, and child is a sinner by nature. Our sin brings us under the penalty of sin, which is death in hell.
Rom. 3:10 -23, 5:8, 6:23; Eph. 2:1, 5, and 9; James 2:10
C. We believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. He rose from the dead bodily, securing redemption for all who believe on Him.
2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9; 1 Peter 3:18; Rom. 4:5; 1 Cor. 15:3-4, and 12-19; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:2
D. We believe when a person is brought to repentance towards God, he places faith in the sacrificial death and the shed blood of Jesus Christ for salvation. He is, when saved, indwelt by the Holy Ghost, knows he has been saved and does not have to be convinced by a human agency that he is saved.
John 1:12 , 3:7, 6:47 , and 14:6; 1 John 5:13; 1 Peter 1:6; Acts 2:21, and 10:31 ; 2 Cor. 6:10; Heb. 6:1
Article 9
Eternal Security of the Believer:
We believe every true Child of God is born again and possesses eternal life, is justified by faith, sanctification by God, sealed by the Holy Ghost, is safe and secure for all eternity, and therefore cannot lose his salvation. A Christian, because of sin, can lose his fellowship, joy, power, testimony, and reward, but not is salvation. When a Christian lives in sin, he incurs the judgment and chastisement of God upon himself. As a Child of God, the relationship is eternal, based on the new birth. Fellowship, however, is dependent on obedience and faith.
John 6:34 , 39, and 10:27 -30; Rom. 8:38-39; 1 Cor. 3:11 -17, 5:1-5, and 11:30 -32; Jude 24; 1 Peter 1:5
Article 10
THE CHURCH:
We believe that the local church is God’s institution for this age and is to uphold the Word of God and the Saviour of mankind in a Christian testimony for its community. The New Testament Church, according to divine purpose and plan. is a visible, local, organized body; it is composed of baptized believers associated together by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel. The New Testament Church is a sovereign, independent, militant body, is blessed with the presence and leadership of the Holy Ghost and the light and revelation of the Written Word. The New Testament Church is a self-governing body and is the sole judge, under the limitations of the Scriptures, of the measure and method of its cooperation with other Churches. The Local Church is the only ecclesiastical tribunal the Lord has on earth; its judgment concerning membership, missions, benevolence, cooperative alignment, and support, is final. Every Christian worker should be actively involved in and answer to the local Church. The Church is made up of the redeemed in heaven (The Church Triumphant, those who were saved and have passed on to be with the Lord) and the redeemed on earth (The Church Militant, those who are saved, still living on earth). The Church had its beginning with Christ and His disciples. and was endued with power (baptized with fire), on the Day of Pentecost. Some believers will not submit themselves to scriptural baptism and are not active in a Local Church. Others even try ministries without authority from a Local New Testament Church. God works only through the Local New Testament Church. God has commanded believers to assemble for edification and fellowship and to come under the authority of the Local New Testament Church. The Scriptures teach that any believer that has not been scripturally baptized as a member of a Local New Testament Church is living in jeopardy. They simply do not enjoy the benefits. safety, leadership, instruction, encouragement and protection. that God intended for them as baptized members of a Local New Testament Church. The Church has only two offices, those of Bishop (Pastor), and Deacon. The Church has been commanded to practice two ordinances: that of baptism by immersion in water, and that of keeping the Lord’s Supper.
Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:47; 1 Cor. 6:19, 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4-5, 4:12-16; Col. 1:18; Heb. 10:25.
A. THE GREAT COMMISSION:
We believe the final command that the Lord Jesus Christ left for the Church to carry out before His bodily ascension was for them to preach the gospel in all the world. He has commanded us to labor to carry the gospel into our local community, throughout our country, and into all the world. We believe the Local New Testament Church was given this commandment and is the proper institution and authority for its accomplishment. To this end, we seek to ordain (or commission) scripturally qualified men who have demonstrated that they are called by God to the gospel ministry and burdened for the work of the Church. We seek to encourage and support scripturally qualified missionaries of like faith and practice who are sent out by their Local Churches to carry out the same commission.
Our commission is to go, to preach the gospel, to baptize them, and to teach them the truths that we ourselves have learned from the Word of God. We believe that parachurch organizations (corporate bodies, enterprises, or individuals other than the Local Church) that choose to try to operate missionary or evangelistic organizations, other than through and under the auspices of the Local New Testament Church are operating unscripturally and arc-seeking to do the work of the Church without proper authority or supervision.
Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8,2 Cor 10:13-16.
B. BELIEVER’S BAPTlSM:
We believe that baptism by immersion in water is the scriptural means of baptism for all believers (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12-13, Acts 8:36-38; Eph. 4:5). Water apart from the new birth makes no difference in the spiritual life of anyone. Baptism is commanded once a person trusts Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Baptism by immersion in water symbolizes the complete renewal and change that has taken place in the believer’s life and testifies of his faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the way of Salvation. Baptism is like a wedding ring, putting on a wedding ring does not make you married, however, if you are married first then putting on a wedding ring testifies to everyone that you are indeed married. Baptism is commanded and a test of a believer’s willingness to obey and identify himself with the Lord Jesus Christ Christ openly. We believe that only the Local New Testament Church was given authority for Baptism. We only accept individuals for membership who have been scripturally baptized in a church of like faith and practice. We do not accept Baptism by those that teach that baptism saves, or that believe and practice infant baptism. or the sprinkling of believers. We further require any who desire membership in our congregation and can give a good testimony of their salvation but were not scripturally baptized in a Baptist Church to submit to baptism as a clear testimony that they believe that baptism is symbolic and has no power to save or cleanse from sin.
Jn. 4:1-2; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12-17; Acts 8:36-38; Eph. 4:5; Acts 18:24-28; Eph. 4:30, Acts 1:4-5.
C. THE LORD’S SUPPER:
We believe that the Church was commanded to continue in the taking of the Lord’s Supper until Jesus comes again for the Church. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic ordinance that pictures for us the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. The elements of the Lord’s supper provide a way for the Church to collectively and symbolically show that they believe that Jesus died for them, has risen, and is coming again. The Lord’s Supper offers a means by which the Church is brought into unity, in that all who partake must examine themselves and confess their sin before partaking.
The elements of The Lord’s Supper are; bread which represents the broken body of our Lord who was crucified at Calvary, and wine (this church uses unfermented grape juice so as not to cause some converted drunk to stumble) which represents the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ Christ that was shed for the atonement of sin at Calvary. This ordinance is commanded to be kept by all believers, therefore we practice open communion and allow anyone who is truly saved to partake of the Lord’s Supper. However, the Local Church is the institution to which the Lord gave this ordinance, and the Church alone must decide when and to whom it shall be offered. The Church would be wise not to observe the Lord’s Supper if there are major divisions in the Church or believers who are living openly in sin, the results of this would be sickness and possibly even the death of those who partake unworthily.
We do not believe that any man can supernaturally invoke the blessings of God upon the elements of the Lord’s Supper making them literally the body and blood of Our Lord. The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, practice Transubstantiation (complete change of substance,) by which the priest claims to invoke the blessings of God on the bread and wine, changing their substance, making a Eucharist, (Blessing) and teaching that the bread and wine have literally become the body and blood of the Lord, and when eaten save the recipient. The Lord’s Supper is symbolic, having no power to save its recipients, but provides a wonderful ordinance for remembering the Lord’s death until He comes again for His Church and partakes of His Marriage Supper with them.
Luke 22:19; Mail. 26:28-29; Mark 14:25; 1 Cor 10:16-17, 1 Cor. 11:17-34; Rev.19:9
Article 11
The Blessed Hope:
We believe in a personal pre-tribulation and premillennial return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy is the coming of our Lord in the air to receive to Himself the dead in Christ, and believers who are alive at His coming. This is known as the rapture or translation of the Church.
1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thess. 1:10 , and 4:13 -18; 2 Thess. 2:1-8; Tit. 2:11-14; Rev. 3:10, and 4:1-4
Article 12
The Great Tribulation:
We believe that the rapture of the Church will be followed by seven years of tribulation on earth, the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70th week. The Time Of Jacob’s Terrible day of the Lord, The Great Tribulation.
Dan. 9:27; Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:15-21; Rev. 6:1-9
Article 13
The Second Coming Of Christ In Glory:
We believe that the Great Tribulation will be climaxed by the premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ to death to set up His Kingdom.
Zech. 14:4-11; Matt. 24:15-25, and 24:46; 2 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 1:7; Isa. 2:1-4, and 65:17-25
Article 14
Satan:
We believe that Satan is an actual person and not an imaginary influence; that he once enjoyed the high heavenly honors and glorious heavenly privileges of an archangel; that he, through pride, ambition, and self-will attempted to betray the Almighty and thereby brought down upon his head the judgment of God; that he operated today as the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air; he is a diabolical inventor, arch deceiver and the father of lies; he is the greatest enemy, the mightiest tempter, and the most relentless accuser of the saints; he shall one day be incarnated in the person of the Antichrist and in that role will finally meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the Battle of Armageddon and suffer overwhelming defeat; he shall eventually be cast into the lake of fire; the eternal place of punishment, prepared for the devil and his angels.
Job 1:6-12, and 2:1-7; Ezek. 28:12-19; Isa. 14:12-27, Gen. 3:14; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; Matt. 24:11; 2 Thess. 2:7-11; John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8
Article 15
Spiritual Gifts:
We believe that the moment a person is saved (repents and trusts Christ), he is equipped for Spiritual service. The believer upon salvation is given one or more Spiritual gifts with which to serve God, edifying the Body of Christ. We further refuted the modern-day charismatic movement that exalts the gifts above the giver, and that equates gifts, such as speaking in tongues, with spirituality and/or salvation. The Holy Ghost distributes gifts as He wills. It is the responsibility of each believer to discover and exercise his spiritual gifts to edify the Body of Christ. The gift of tongues is the supernatural ability to speak in a language that you presently do not know, however, it should always be a language common to some nationality of men and, when spoken, properly interpreted by men. Tongues are not now, nor were ever, for the purpose of proving one’s salvation or spirituality. The gift of healing is the gift of praying and believing that God will come through with the healing of another.
1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Cor.12 & 13; Eph.4:7-16; James 5:15-16
Article 16
Christian Responsibility:
We believe it is every Christian privilege and duty to proclaim God’s message of salvation wherever and whenever possible. It is the Christian’s privilege and duty to study God’s Word, believe, and obey it. Moreover, the Christian is to communicate with God regularly in prayer for hid own needs, and for the needs of others. The Christian should not forsake the assembly of the Church. He should faithfully assemble with the Church for fellowship, instruction, worship, and to support the work of the Local New Testament Church. The believer should seek to walk in a way that will not bring shame and reproach upon himself, the Church, or the Lord Jesus Christ. Separation from sinful worldly pleasures, powers of darkness, and false religion is commanded in the Word of God for all Christians.
Mark 16:16; John. 16:24; Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Thess. 5:17; Heb.10:25
Article 17
Heaven and Hell:
We believe in the eternal blessedness of the saved in Heaven and the eternal punishment of the lost in Hell. The lost, because of unbelief, will spend eternity in the Lake Of Fire damned to eternal torment. The saved will spend eternity in Heaven in everlasting happiness, with the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that Heaven and Hell are both literal places and not just figurative names for some sort of state or mere soul sleep in which man may find himself. Purgatory, is a fabrication of men’s thinking, does not exist, neither is there any other place to be found where men go to do penitence to escape eternal damnation in Hell.
Matt. 8:12, 25:13, 25:30, and 26:29; Luke 10:20, and 20:34 -36; John. 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:1-2; 1 Peter 1:4; Rev. 21:1-8, and 22:5