Riverside Drive Baptist Church

That the Holy Bible is the written Word of God, and that the Holy Spirit guided certain men to produce in sixty-six books the complete, inspired Scriptures. God inspired every word of the original texts. All the Scriptures are equally and completely inspired, and that it is truth without any error. (II Tim. 3:16, II Pet. 1:21). God has preserved His Word forever (I Pet. 1:23-35). It is the standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinion are tried. Man must move from truth to experience, not vice versa.

That there is only one true and living God, eternally existing in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Godhead are equal in every divine perfection. (Gen. 1:26)

That Jesus Christ is the eternal and only begotten Son of God, co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. He assumed human nature without sin and lived a perfect, sinless life. Luke 1:35; Heb. 4:15). He is wholly man and wholly God (John 1:1,14). He died on the cross shedding His precious blood as the payment for sin (I Pet. 2:24). He was buried and rose again bodily from the grave on the third day securing our justification (Rom. 4:25). He ascended to heaven, and sits at the right hand of God.

That man was created in the image and likeness of God--in innocence (Gen. 1:26-27). Man, by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state. As a consequence, all mankind are sinners and inherently depraved, and are under the just condemnation of God without excuse. Man is completly unable to personally alter their condition(Gen. 2:9; Rom. 5:12; John 3:36; Eph. 2:8-9).

That salvation is a free gift of God's grace received through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9). Salvation can never be lost (John 10:27-29). Salvation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension. It is not by character, not by works, nor by the will of man, but solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the Word of God (Rom 10:17; Titus 3:5).

That the Holy Spirit is a divine person of the Godhead, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. Concerning the unbeliever, He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness (John 16:8-11). He is God's agent in the new birth. He seals (Eph. 1:13), indwells (I Cor. 6:19), comforts (John 14:16) fills (Eph. 5:18), teaches, and guides the believer (John 16:13). We do not believe, promote or participate in the modern charismatic or vineyard movement.

In the pre-tribulational, pre-millennial return of Christ in the air for His Bride, The Church (I Thes. 1:10, 4:13-18; Rev. 20:1-3).

That all regenerated persons of this present age belong to the universal church, the body of Christ. (Eph. 1:22-23). That the local church is a congregation of saved and scripturally baptized believers who are associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel (Acts 2:38-42). That the local church is to fulfill our Lord's Great Commission through preaching the Gospel, baptizing new converts, and instructing them in the truths of God's Word (Eph. 4:11-16; Matt. 28:18-20). That there are two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's supper (Acts 2:41-42). That there are two offices: Pastor and Deacon (I Tim. 3; Acts 6:1-4).

That the local church is self-governing (Acts 15). That the local church is to be free from interference by any heirarchy of organizations. That the church is to follow its sole Head, Jesus Christ. That it is Scriptural for true churches to co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and in furthering the Gospel. That each church is the sole judge in matters of fellowship, cooperation, membership, polity, government, and discipline.

That the Beleiver, in obedience to God, is to individually separate from worldly practices that are forbidden in Scripture, dishonor the Lord, or bring reproach to the church (I John 2:15-17).

That the local chrch is to remain separated from affiliation, fellowship, and cooperation with all those who deny true Biblical doctrine or endorse compromising alliances whereby Scriptural injunctions are ignored; the person, deity, or Gospel of Jesus Christ is compromised; and the purity of the faith is damaged (I Cor. 6:14; I Thes. 1:9-10; I Tim. 6:3-5; II John 9-11). All acts of separation must be practiced with an attitude of devotion to Christ, humility, and compassion in order to maintain the glory of Christ.