12.  Of The Local Church

    We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties, are clearly defined in Scriptures.  We believe the true Mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity.  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 each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, and the will of the local church final.

Acts 2:41-42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11; Acts 20:17-28; Tim. 3:1-7; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24; Acts 15:1-18

13.  Of Baptism And The Lord's Supper

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of church membership.  We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He come, and should be preceded always by solemn self examination.

Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16; Col. 2:12; I Cor. 11:23-28

14.  Of The Security Of The Saints

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ.

Phil. 1:6; John 10:28-29; Rom 8:35-39; Jude 1 (R.V.)

15.  Of The Righteous And The Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are 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 holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18: I John 5:19; Rom. 7:6; Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32; Luke 6:25; matt. 25:34-41; John 8:21

16.  Of Civil Government

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 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.

Rom. 13:1-7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Acts 5:20; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18

17.  Of The Resurrection, Personal, Visible, Premillennial Return of Christ, and Related Events

(a) We believe in the Bodily Resurrection.

Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6

(b) The Ascension

Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 12:2

(c) The High Priesthood.

Heb. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10

(d) The Second Coming.

John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16; James 5:8; Heb. 9:28

(e) The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead

I Thess. 4:13; I Cor. 15:42-44; I Cor. 15:52

(f)  The Change of the Living in Christ.

I Cor 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20-21

(g)  The Resurrection of the Unjust.

John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:5-6

(h)  The Throne of David.

Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30

(i)  The Millennial Reign.

I Cor 15:25; Isa. 32:1; Isa. 11:4; Ps. 72:8; Rev. 20:14; Rev. 20:6

CHURCH DOCTRINE CONTINUED

SOUTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH