Doctrinal Statement

We affirm the 1611 Authorized King James Version of The Holy Bible is the complete, finished, inspired, inerrant, infallible, indestructible, and preserved Word of God in the English language. (1 Peter 1:23, Psalm 12:6-7)

We affirm that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, a free gift made available to all but accepted by few. Thus, we reject Calvinism, works or ritual based salvation, universal salvation, etc. (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Timothy 4:10, John 3:16)

We affirm the Holy Ghost enters into a believer immediately after salvation, and only then can the process of spiritual growth and turning from sin begin. Not every saved Christian is a disciple, but all Christians should fear the Father who chastens all His sons. Sadly, there are carnal Christians and backsliders. Thus, we reject “Lordship Salvation.” (Ephesians 1:9-14)

We affirm the eternal security of the believer, in that once a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, they’re “once saved and always saved.” Thus, we reject Arminianism. (John 10:25-29)

We affirm Hell is a literal place for all who die outside of Jesus Christ to suffer eternal damnation. (Revelation 20:14, Matthew 23:33)

We affirm that God exists eternally in three distinct and coequal persons: God The Father, Jesus Christ The Son, and The Holy Ghost. (1 John 5:7, John 3:16, John 14:26)

We affirm that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, all God yet all man; He died on the cross as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice to pay the debt of sin for all, especially those who believe; He rose on the third day, and He now reigns from Heaven at the right hand of God The Father. (Luke 1:26-38, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

We affirm that Jesus Christ will return one day, that all deceased Christians will be resurrected and all living Christians will be raptured up to be spared the wrath of God on the world during the reign of the (Antichrist) Man of Sin, and then Jesus Christ will rule the world for 1,000 years (the Millennial Reign) after the Tribulation and Wrath of God. Satan will be bound during the Millennium, Christ will rule with a rod of iron, and Christians will receive rewards to rule with Christ during the Millennium based on their works. After the Millennium, Satan will be unbound temporarily to lead a failed war against Jesus Christ, and then Satan and all unsaved people will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire for Eternity. (Revelation, Daniel, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Matthew 18)

We affirm that physical baptism is by immersion in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost; that baptism is a public profession of faith for Christians entering into membership in a Biblical New Testament church; that baptism is to be carried out after a Christian gets saved; and that this physical church baptism has no bearing on salvation. (Acts 8:36-37, Matthew 28:19)

We affirm that Jesus Christ is the head of the New Testament church (called out assembly or congregation). Thus, we are an independent and autonomous local congregation; and we unequivocally reject usurping influences such as conventions, denominations, centralized missions boards and Sunday School literature, and the false doctrine of a universal church led by celebrity clergymen. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Romans 16:17-18, Matthew 16:16-19)

We affirm that God calls both churches and individual Christians to break fellowship with professed “Christians” who continue to deny Biblical fundamentals after they reject correction, and to break fellowship with compromisers who embrace false teachers. (2 Corinthians 11, Romans 16:17-18, Matthew 16:16-19)

We affirm the history of creation & the Age of the Patriarchs as it is literally laid out in Genesis. (Genesis, Job)

We affirm that God calls Christians to a life of sobriety and sexual morality, which means abstaining from alcohol, drugs, fornication, and adultery. (1 Corinthians 5, Proverbs 23:29-32, Proverbs 20:1)

We affirm that there are only two genders, male and female, and that every individual’s gender is assigned by God at birth. Thus, men must conduct themselves in a masculine manner, and women must accentuate their femininity. (Mark 10:6, Deuteronomy 22:5)

We affirm that natural law exclusively attracts men to women and women to men, and that sexuality must be limited to one man and one woman within the confines of marriage. (Romans 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 7)

We affirm the institution of marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman that lasts for life. We also defend and promote the nuclear family. (Matthew 19:9)

We affirm that life begins at conception, and that abortion is murder. (Luke 1, Jeremiah 32:35)

We affirm the death penalty is the just punishment for the most severe predators convicted in a court of law. (Exodus 21:24-25)

We affirm that the local church must practice “church discipline” to maintain the purity of the congregation and to correct brethren fallen into grievous sins. (1 Corinthians 5)

We affirm that God ordained the nation-state as a safety net against globalism, that domestic government roles are limited to punishing evildoers and providing for the common defense, and that the nation-state has the right and obligation to enforce its borders and defend its citizens from foreign invasion. (Romans 13, Genesis 11, Nehemiah)

We affirm the autonomy of the nation state, thus we reject and condemn coercive globalist institutions such as multinational trade organizations, international criminal courts, multinational militaries, and internationally controlled central banks. (Revelation 13)

We affirm that local governments must rule local affairs, except where the United States Constitution delegates powers specifically to the federal government and where inalienable rights are endowed by God to the individual citizen. Thus, we reject a federalized police force, unelected bureaucrats writing regulations that supersede legally enacted laws, and local politicians and police who neglect their role of protecting the community from dangerous predators meanwhile persecuting law abiding citizens who enjoy their God-given Constitutional rights such as the freedoms of speech and assembly. (Romans 13, Revelation 13)

We affirm the right of the individual citizens to keep and bear arms to defend their persons, property, and Constitutional liberties. (Luke 22:36, 1 Timothy 5:8)

Old Paths Missionary Baptist Church of Clearwater, Florida – KJV