Beliefs of Emmanuel

The Scriptures

We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. In the original manuscripts it was verbally (every word) inspired; and that the God who wrote the Bible through His chosen men has preserved it through the years; that God, the Holy Spirit, is its Author; that the salvation of sinners is its end; and that eternal truth without any mixture of error is its content; that it is indestructible and forever settled in Heaven; and that it is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried (2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

The Trinity

We believe in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, each Person being equal yet there being not three Gods but One (Isaiah 48:16–17; Matthew 3:16-17; John 10:30).

The Virgin Birth

We believe in the Virgin Birth, the sinless life, and the Deity of Jesus Christ the Lord (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15)

The Blood Atonement

We believe in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the only ground of atonement for sins (Hebrews 9:12,14; Romans 3:25).

The Resurrection and Ascension

We believe in the bodily resurrection and Lordship of Jesus, His ascension into Heaven, and His present advocacy and High Priesthood in the presence of God for us (1 Corinthians 15; Acts 2:32; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 8:1–2).

The Second Coming

We believe in the “Blessed Hope:” the personal, imminent, Pre-tribulational, and Pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Romans 5:9; Revelation 3:10; 19:11–16).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He regenerates, indwells, enlightens and empowers the truly saved (John 16:7–15; 1 Corinthians 2:10–16; 6:19–20; 1 John 2:20,27).

The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a real personality; that he was created perfect but fell through pride; that he is the author of the fall, the arch enemy of God and the souls of men (Job 1:6–7; Ezekiel 28:14–15; Isaiah 14:12–15).

Total Depravity

We believe that the fall of our first parents caused the total depravity and lost condition of all men by nature (Romans 3:19; 5:12–19).

Justification

We believe that men are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus. This is entirely by grace through faith and not by any works so that boasting is excluded (Acts 13:38–39; Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5).

The One Body

We believe that God instituted the local church to carry out His work today. We believe the local church is composed of members who have been saved and baptized according to the command of Christ and have voluntarily united together for the purpose of worship, carrying out the Great Commission, fellowship, and service. We believe that its only Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications and duties are defined in the Word of God. We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the church. We believe that all true believers will be taken up at the Rapture, just prior to the Tribulation. Though differing in minor matters of doctrine and practice, all true believers are members of the body of Christ. Therefore, we can have personal fellowship with all who are true believers. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:15; Acts 2:41-43; Acts 20:28; I Corinthians 11:23-26; I Corinthians 12:12-13; I Corinthians 15:51-58; Ephesians 1:12-14; Ephesians 5:25-30; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Timothy 3:1-15; Titus 1:6-9).

Separation from the World System

We believe that all the saved are called into a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices (Romans 12:1; James 4:4; 1 John 2:16; 2 Corinthians 6:14).

The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the eternal conscious punishment of every unsaved person (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:10–15) and the eternal happiness of every saved person (John 14:1–6; Revelation 12:1–4).

Missions

We believe that in view of the doctrines of total depravity and the lost condition of all who are unregenerate, the absolute obligation of the saved to witness by life and word and by sound missionary agencies to the whole world of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19–20).

Human Sexuality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5,13; Genesis 26:8–9; Leviticus 18:1–30; Romans 1:26–29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8; Heb.13:4). We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22–23).

Family Relationships

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate functions for men and women in the home and the Church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastor(s) and deacons) of the Church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination to the ministry by the Church (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:8–15; 3:4–5,12).

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the Church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction (Genesis 1:26–28; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Psalm 127:3–5; Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 23:13–14; Mark 10:6–12; 1 Corinthians 7:1–16; Ephesians 5:21–33; 6:1–4, Colossians 3:18–21; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1–7).

Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the Church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Malachi 2:14–17; Matthew 19:3–12; Romans 7:1–3; 1 Timothy 3:2,12; Titus 1:6).

Baptist Distinctives

  • Bible is the only rule for faith and practice
  • Autonomy of the Local Church
  • Priesthood of the believer
  • Two ordinances: Baptist and the Lord’s Supper
  • Individual soul liberty
  • Separation of Church and State
  • Two Scriptural offices in the Local Church: pastor(s) and deacons
  • Security of the believer

Doctrine of Human Life

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. We believe that the unscriptural taking of human life including abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide, is murder (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:1-5, 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24, 49:1,5; Jeremiah 1:5, 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).