Independent Baptist Church of Leutkirch
Statement of Faith
Regeneration (The New Birth) 3
Eternal Salvation (Eternal Security) 4
The Ordinances — Baptism & The Lord’s Supper 5
We believe (A) that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH (hebr.: יהוה ), the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth; (B) inexpressibly glorious in holiness, (C) worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; (D) that in the unity of the Godheadthere are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; (E) equal in every divine perfection, (F) and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the work of redemption.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Ps 83:19; 147:5; Is 45:21-22; Jer 10:10; Joh 4:24; Rom 1:20; Hebr 3:4
B. Ex 15:11; Is 6:3; 1Pt 1:15-16; Rev 4:6-8
C. Mt 10:37; Mk 12:30; Eph 3:20-21; Rev 4:11
D. Mt 3:16-17; 28:19; Lk 1:35; Joh 15:26; 1Cor 12:4-6; 2Cor 13:13; 1Joh 5:7
E. Joh 5:17; 10:30; 14:23; 17:5,10; Acts 5:3-4; 20:28; 1Cor 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6
F. 2Cor 13:13; Eph 1:3-14; 2:18; Rev 1:4-6
Explanatory Note
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 woman and that He is both perfect God and perfect man, the Son of God and God the Son.
Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14; Mt 1:18-25; Lk 1:35; Joh 1:14; Gal 4:4; 1Joh 5:20.
We believe (A) that the Holy Bible was written by divinely inspired men who “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” [2Pet 1:21] and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; (B) has God for its author and salvation for its end; (C) is divinely preserved from any mixture of error for its matter; (D) reveals the principles by which God will judge us; (E) shall remain to the end of the world the true center of Christian union; and (F) is the supreme standard by which all faith and practice should be tried.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. 2Sam 23:2; Lk 16:29-31; Joh 10:35; Acts 1:16, 3:21; Rom 3:1.2; 2Tim 3:15-17; 2Pt 1:21.
B. Mk 16:15,16; Joh 5:38,39; Acts 11:14; Rom 1:16; 1Pt 1:10-12.
C. Ps 12:6; Prov 30:5.6; Joh 17:17; Rom 3:4; Rev 22:18.19.
D. Lk 10:10-16, 12:47.48; Joh 12:47.48; Rom 2:12
E. Philippians 3:16
F. Ps 119:59.60; Acts 17:11; Eph 6:17-18; Col 1:9; 2Tim 3:16
We believe (A) that man was created in holiness, in the image of God, under the law of his Maker; (B) but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; (C) in consequences of which all mankind are now sinners, (D) not by constraint, but choice; (E) being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, (F) without defense or excuse.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Gen 1:27,31; 2:16,17; Eccl 7:29; Acts 17:24-29
B. Gen 3:6-24; Rom 5:12
C. Ps 14:1-3; 51:5; Joh 3:6; Rom 3:23; 5:12-19; 8:7-8
D. Gen 6:5.12; Is 53:6; Rom 3:10
E. Rom 1:18; 2:1-16; 6:23; Gal 3:10; Eph 2:1-3
F. Eze 18:19-20; Rom 1:19-32, 3:19-20; Gal 3:21-22
We believe (A) that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; (B) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; (C) who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; (D) honored the divine law by His personal obedience, (E) and by His death made a full atonement for our sins; (F) that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven; and (G) who is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all-sufficient Savior.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Mt 18:11; Lk 19:10; Acts 15:11; Eph 2:8; 1Joh 4:10
B. Joh 1:1-14, 3:16; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebr 4:14, 9:11-12, 12:24
C. 2Cor 5:21; Philippians 2:6-7; Hebr 2:17-18
D. Is 42:21; Rom 3:21; Gal 4:4-5; Phil 2:8
E. Is 53:4-5; Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45; Rom 3:21-26; 4:23-25; 1Cor 15:1-3; Hebr 9:13-15; 1Joh 2:2; 4:10-11
F. Col 3:1-4; Hebr 1:3,8, 8:1
G. Ps 34; Col 2:9; Hebr 2:18, 7:25-26
We believe (A) that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; (B) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept it by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; (C) and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; and (D) that this rejection condemns him to eternal damnation.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Isa 55:1; Rom 5:18; 10:13; Tit 2:11; Rev 22:17
B. Mk 1:15; Acts 17:30-31; Rom 1:16-18
C. Prov 1:24-29; Joh 5:40,49; Acts 13:46; Rom 9:30-32
D. Mt 11:20-24; Joh 3:19,36; 2Th 1:8-10
We believe (A) that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated; (B) that regeneration takes place according to the will of God, when a person believes the Gospel of Christ; (C) that the terms regeneration and “born again” are synonymous; (D) that it is a work of the Holy Spirit whereby the person who was once “dead in sins”, is given new life in Christ, by being spiritually born into the family of God; (E) that the seed which the Holy Spirit uses to bring about the new birth is the Word of God; (F) that righteousness, not committing sin, loving one another, and overcoming the world are among the many fruits of regeneration.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Joh 3:3-7; Eph 2:1-7; 1Cor 2:14
B. Joh 1:12.13, 3:3-7; James 1:18; Eph 1:13
C. Joh 3:3-7; 1Pt 1:23; Tit 3:5
D. Joh 3:5; Gal 4:6.7; Tit 3:5
E. 1Pt 1:23; Rom 10:17
F. 1Joh 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1,4,18
We believe (A) that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; (B) that Justification includes the pardon of sin; (C) and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; (D) 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; (E) by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God, (F) that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God; and (G) secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Joh 1:16; Rom 5:1,9; Eph 3:8
B. Is 53:11,12; Apg 13:39; Rom 8:1
C. Zech 13:1; Joh 3:16; Rom 5:21; 1Jo 5:13
D. Rom 5:17,21; Tit 3:5-7; 1Pt 1:2,18,19; 1Joh 2:25
E. Rom 3:28, 4:4-5, 5:21, 6:23; Phil 3:7-9
F. Rom 3:24-26, 4:23-25, 5:11,19-20; 1Joh 2:12
G. Mt 6:33; Rom 5:1-5; 1Cor 1:30-31; 1Tim 4:8
We believe (A) that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; (B) that it is a progressive work; (C) that it (the process of sanctification) is begun with the new birth (regeneration); (D) and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means such as the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. 2Cor 7:1, 13:9; Eph 1:4-6; 1Th 4:3, 5:23
B. Prov 4:18; Philippians 3:12-16; Hebr 6:1; 2Pt 1:5-8
C. Joh 3:6; Rom 8:5; Philippians 1:9-11; 1Joh 2:29
D. Mt 26:41; Lk 9:23; 2Cor 13:5; Eph 4:11-30, 6:18; Philippians 2:12-13; 1Pt 2:2; 2Pt 3:18
We believe (A) that salvation is a “once for all” gift of God (B) that it is received when the sinner places his faith in Jesus Christ, who’s sacrificial death, burial and resurrection is the only efficacious atonement for sin; (C) that the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ assures forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who believe, and that this “eternal life” begins at the moment of salvation; (D) that the salvation of the sinner and perseverance of the saint are fully dependent upon the grace and ability of God, and not the individual; (E) that all those who are true believers will “continue” in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in obedience to his commands; (F) that fruits of true salvation in an individual believer are, without exception, an obedient life, a love of the brethren, answers to prayer, and the presence and discipline of the Holy Spirit.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Joh 3:16; Hebr 8:12, 9:26-28, 10:17
B. Joh 1:12, 14:6; Acts 16:31; Röm 1:16, 10:9-10
C. Joh 3:16; Joh 10:28-29; Rom 10:9,10,13; 1Joh 5:11-13
D. Joh 1:12; Gal 2:21; 1Pt 1:5; Jud 24-25
E. Joh 8:31; 2Cor 5:17; 1Joh 3:1-10
F. Joh 8:31, 13:35, 14:15; Rom 8:9; 1Cor 6:9-11; 2Cor 5:17; Hebr 12:8; 1Joh 2:3-11, 3:16-17, 5:14-15
We believe (A) the Scriptures teach that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; (B) that it is holy, just and good and (C) that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their sinful nature; (D) that to deliver them from the inability to fulfill the Law and to restore them through a mediator to unfeigned obedience to the Holy Law, is one great end of the Gospel.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Mt 5:17; Lk 16:17; Rom 3:20,31; 4:15
B. Ps 119; Rom 7:7-22; Gal 3:21
C. Rom 8:7-8
D. Rom 8:2-4, 10:4; 1Tim 1:5; Hebr 8:10
We believe (A) that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; (B) observing the teachings of Christ; (C) governed by His laws; and (D) exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; (E) that its only Scriptural officers are Bishops or Pastors and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Mt 18:17; Acts 2:41-47, 5:11, 8:1; 1Cor 1:1-10, 4:17, 5:12-13, 14:23-25; 2Cor 8:5; 3Joh 9
B. Rom 16:17-20; 1Cor 4:17, 11:2,23-34; 2Cor 2:17; Kol 2:12; 2Th 3:6
C. Mt 28:18-20; Joh 14:15,21, 15:12-14; Acts 2:36; Gal 6:2; Eph 1:22; 1Th 4:2; 1Joh 4:21; 2Joh 6
D. 1Cor 14:12; Eph 4:7; Phil 1:27
E. Acts 14:23, 15:22, 20:17,28; Philippians 1:1; 1Tim 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9
We believe that Christian baptism is (A) the immersion in water of a believer; (B) into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; (C) 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; (D) that it is prerequisite to the membership of a local Church.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Mt 3:5.6, 28:19; Mk 16:16; Joh 3:22.23, 4:1.2; Acts 2:38.41, 8:12.36-39, 16:32-34, 18:8
B. Mt 28:19; Acts 10:47.48; Gal 3:27.28
C. Acts 22:16; Rom 6:4; Col 2:12; 1Pt 3:20.21
D. Mt 28:19.20; Acts 2:41.42
We believe that the Lord’s Supper (A) in which the saints, by the use of bread and the cup, commemorate together the dying love of Christ (B) preceded always by solemn self-examination; (C) is nothing more than a symbol of the body and blood of Christ and that during this commemoration, the elements do not change.
Places in the Bible Where Taught:
A. Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:14-20; 1Cor 11:26
B. Joh 6:26-71; 1Cor 5:8-11, 10:3-32, 11:14-32
C. Joh 6:26-71; 1Cor 5:8-11
We believe that (A) God created an innumerable company of sinless, spiritual beings known as angels; that one, “Lucifer, son of the morning” – one of the highest in rank – sinned through pride, thereby becoming Satan; that a great company of the angels followed him in his moral fall, some of whom became demons and are active as his agents and associates in the prosecution of his unholy purposes, while others who fell are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day”. (B) Satan is the originator of sin and that, under the permission of God he, through subtlety, led our first parents into transgression, thereby accomplishing their moral fall and subjecting them and their posterity to his own power; that he is the enemy of God and the people of God opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; and that he who in the beginning said, “I will be like the most High,” in his warfare appears as an angel of light even counterfeiting the works of God by fostering religious movements and systems of doctrine, which systems in every case are characterized by a denial of the efficacy of the blood of Christ and of salvation by grace alone.
A. Isa 14:12-17; Eze 28:11-19; 1Tim 3:6; 2Pt 2:4; Jud 6
B. Gen 3:1-19; Isa 14,14; Rom 5:12-14; 1Cor 4:3-4, 11:13-15; Eph 6:10-12; 2Th 2:4; 1Tim 4:1-3