OLD TIME BAPTIST CHURCH, CONNEAUT OHIO
Mission Statement – To accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior. To surrender and love God with all our heart, mind, and strength. Showing for others the Charity (Godly Love) Jesus showed us and causing us to reach out and share The Gospel along with His Word to reach the lost with salvation. Bringing in us a desire to continually grow in faith, through witnessing, learning, and service to others near and far.
Doctrines held by Old Time Baptist Church
I. Salvation – We believe that all are born sinners and fall short of the Glory of God which leads one to be separated from God. Salvation is available to all. Jesus paid the ransom for all. One must be born again through faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross along with confession of Him as Lord and Savoir. Once saved one can rest in the eternal security and assurance as a believer and child of God (Romans 3:23, John 3: 15-18, Mark 10:45. 1 John 2:2, Rev 3:20 Ephesians 2:8-10)
II. Baptism – We rest in the fact that baptism is a public profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and is an act of obedience to His will and desire for us. (Baptism is not a means to wash sins away or a step in salvation) Baptism is a picture of one’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. The image is one buried in their old sinful life, washed and resurrected, born again in Christ. (John 3:5, Mathew 28:19, Acts 2:38)
III. The Lords Supper – The Lords supper is an act of obedience in remembrance of the sacrifice made on the cross for our sins and His second coming. (Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26)
IV. The Trinity – We believe as God’s word teaches, that there is one God eternal existing in three persons. The Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit. They are one essence in perfect harmony. (Genisis 1:26, 3:22, 1 John 5:7, John 1:1-5, Mathew 28:19, Luke 3:22, Hebrews 9:14)
V. The Scriptures – We believe the scriptures; The Holy Bible is the preserved word of God infallible and inherent. It is the foundation of our faith. The Holy Bible is not just a book about God but from God Himself. We stand on the KJV as the Word of God given and kept for all generations. (Psalm 12:6-7, 119:105, 140, Romans 15:4, 16:25-26, 2 Timothy 3:15-16)
VI. Polity of the church – The overall authority is the Lord as revealed in the scriptures. All brethren are to serve for His glorification. The local church is free of any other external authority or control. We are an assembly (fellowship) under the Lord Jesus Christ. All Pastors/ Bishops will meet the qualifications given in the scriptures. They will walk to the best of their ability indwelled by the Holy Ghost to guide, teach, preach, and protect the congregation. Deacons will also be held to the desires of God written out in the scriptures. (1 Timothy 3:1-13 Titus 1:5-11, Acts 13:1-3, 14:27, Romans 16:1-2, Revelation 1:4, 11-13, 18-20,)
VII. Membership – A member must give testimony of being born again having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savoir. They must be scripturally baptized as in obedience to God, representing their death burial and resurrection in Christ, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13-14, Hebrews 10:25 Ephesians 4:1-16)
VII. Evangelism – We are called to spread The Gospel. Jesus will make us to be fishers of men and as a church we have a responsibility to bring The Gospel into the world near and far through witnessing and missionaries. We are to support the work locally and abroad as The Gospel must go to all the world. (Mathew 4:19, 9:37-38, 28:18-20, Mark 16:16)
(CONDENSED, STATEMENT OF FAITH)