WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe that the Universe was created in six literal twenty-four hour days as recorded in the Bible.  We believe that God rested from His work on the seventh day and called His creation good.  Furthermore, we believe that God created man in His image.  We believe that the first man, Adam, committed sin by disobeying God’s instructions and purpose for man.  Due to Adam’s original sin, the human race is cursed, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God.  We believe that man is totally depraved and of himself totally unable to remedy his condition.  (Genesis 1:1-31, 2:1-25, 3:1-24, Exodus 20:11, Romans 3:22-23, Ephesians 2:1-3)   

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be God’s perfect infalliable Word. The Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Received Text of the New Testament (Textus Receptus) are those texts of the original languages we accept; the King James Version of the Bible is the only English version we accept and use. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice. We believe the Word of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. (Psalms 119:60, Proverbs 30:5, II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 2:21)

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4 (Shema), I Corinthians 8:6, II Corinthians 13:14, John 10:30, 1 John 5:7-8)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin named Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. We believe Jesus lived on this Earth as both true God and true Man, one Person with two natures; that as Man He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin; that as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing there the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead; that He arose from the grave in a glorified body; that as our great High Priest He ascended into Heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor. (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, John 1:1-14, Romans 5:8, Galatians 4:4-5, Ephesians 1:7, Phillipians 2:6-10, 1 John 2:1)

We believe that the Holy Spirit reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling all believers and sealing them unto the day of redemption.

We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (John 16:7-14, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 5:18 )

We believe that the only atonement for our sin is the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  We believe that His blood sacrifice and only by Jesus’ blood sacrifice are we forgiven of our sins.  Without Jesus’ sacrifice, we would remain dead due to our sins. (Leviticus 17:11, Isaiah 53:5, Romans 5:9-11, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 13:12)

We believe that salvation is the FREE gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or whole by any virtue or deed of man.  It is received only by personal faith and confession in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as payment for your sins.  Those who have received Christ gift of salvation will live with God in Heaven and will pass from physical death of the Earthly body unto life.  For more information on God’s FREE gift of salvation click here

We believe that once a person has truly accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior their salvation is Eternally Secure.  A person cannot do anything within themselves to earn their Salvation and a person cannot do anything to lose their Salvation; it is the FREE gift of God to whosoever will choose His Son, Jesus Christ.  This Blessed Assurance of our Eternal Salvation should not been seen as a license to sin, but as a sign of God’s grace and forgiveness.  We should strive to live life free of sin in obedience to God and to maintain a great relationship with Him. (John 10:27-29, John 6:37, John 5:24, Romans 11:29, Ephesians 2:8, Philippians 1:6, 1 John 5:13, Jude 1:24) 

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. (Romans 12:1-2, Romans 14:11-13, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, II Timothy 3:1-5, 1 John 2:15-17)

We believe that after we have received God’s FREE gift of salvation, believers are instructed to tell other people how to receive God’s gift for themselves.  This information of how to receive Eternal Life through Jesus is referred to as the Gospel, or Good News.  We believe the Bible teaches us to support the efforts of those who dedicate their lives and travel to foreign countries to show others how to receive God’s FREE gift of salvation.  These people who dedicate their lives to share God’s Truth in foreign locations are called Missionaries. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Luke 10:1-2, Acts 13:2-3, Romans 10:13-15, 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, 2 Corinthians 11:8) 

We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Communion) are the two ordinances of the local church.  Baptism is to be performed after a person has trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior (see Salvation by Grace through Faith section above).  Moreover, we believe that baptism is to be performed by immersion in water symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Click here for more information on baptism.  Concerning the Lord’s Supper, we believe that this act is partaking of bread to symbolize Jesus’ body that was broken, and partaking of New Wine (aka Grape Juice) to symbolize Jesus’ blood that was shed.  The Bread and the New Wine are merely symbols and partaking of them is a memorial of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. (1 Corinthians 11:23-24, Luke 22:14-20, Acts 2:41, Acts 8:27-38)

We believe that the Holy Spirit provides gifts to those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  These gifts are to equip believers to carry out the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the Church.  In addition, we believe that there were certain temporary “sign” gifts, such as speaking in “Tongues”, that were given to the Apostles in the early days of the Church to act as a sign for unbelievers.  The Bible states that the early “sign” gifts would cease once “that which is perfect”, God’s Word, “is come”.  For this reason, we do not practice the sign gifts at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church. (Romans 12:6-8, Acts 2:4-11, Acts 10:44-48, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, II Peter 1:19)

We believe the “Blessed Hope” of our Lord’s return is literal, personal, visible, imminent, premillennial, and pretribulational. Believers will be caught up to be with the Lord prior to the seven years of tribulation, and at the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His saints to establish His thousand-year reign on the earth.(Mark 13:4-37, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Titus 2:13, Revelation 3:10-12,  Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:1-6)