The LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH believes in a supernatural Bible, which tells of a supernatural Christ, Who had a supernatural birth, Who spoke supernatural words, Who performed supernatural miracles, Who lived a supernatural life, Who died a supernatural death, Who rose in supernatural splendor, Who intercedes as a supernatural glory to establish a supernatural kingdom on the earth.
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there is three equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
That the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal 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, of judgment and of righteousness; 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.
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be the man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness – destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively. We do not adhere to a gap theory, but believe that the earth was created by God in seven literal days. That man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness. That man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms. That all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth fruit only “after their own kind.”
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 is now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; therefore, they are under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
We believe that Jesus Christ 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 women, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son.
We believe that the Salvation of sinners is wholly of Grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by 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 the voluntary substitution of the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and all-sufficient Saviour.
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, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and 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, faith and newness of life.
We believe that the blessings of Salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; and that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and an obedient faith; and nothing prevents the Salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures, to those that believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; 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 unto us.
We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour.
We believe that a Baptist Church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, said church being understood to be the citadel and propagator of the Divine and Eternal Grace; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. That its officers of ordination are pastors, or elders whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the Church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the Church; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order.
We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of 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 every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, or government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local Church is final.
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s supper; in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ. Always proceed by solemn self-examination.
We believe that God only is the keeper of the soul which is committed to Him at the moment of Salvation. That once the believer is in Christ’s hand, he cannot be plucked out. That Christ is in God’s hand and that no man can pluck us out of His hand. That we are sealed by the Holy Ghost unto the day of redemption where we will be presented spotless before the throne of God.
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith is justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, is 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 hold among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
We believe that 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 only 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.
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily “The third day according to the Scriptures”; that He alone is our “merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God”; that “this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven”: – bodily, personally and visible; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”; that “the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David”; and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet”.
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you away, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
John 20:21 “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
Romans 10:13-15 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith.
II Corinthians 8:7 “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”
We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (a common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week.
I Corinthians 16:2 “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”
Under Grace we give and do not pay, the tithe – “Abraham GAVE the tenth of spoils” – Hebrew 7:2, 4 – and this was four hundred years before the law, and is confirmed in the New Testament; Jesus said concerning the tithe, “These ye ought to have done” – Matthew 23:23.
We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the church.
Leviticus 27:30 “And all the tithe ….is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.”
Malachi 3:10 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
In the New Testament it was the common treasury of the church.
Acts 4:34-37 “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,”
“And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”
“Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it AT THE APOSTLES’ FEET.”