CHESAPEAKE BAPTIST CHURCH IS A BIBLE-BELIEVING CHURCH
Chesapeake Baptist Church is an assembly of saved and baptized Bible-believers who have a heart for God, are growing together through the Word of God, and are trying our best to serve the Lord by living spiritual lives.
WE ARE BIBLE-BELIEVERS
We believe the King James Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and agree with it being a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
"searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11
WE HAVE A LOVE FOR GOD
Everything we do begins with a love for God.
"thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart" Deuteronomy 6:4-5
WE HAVE A LOVE FOR OTHERS
Everything we do has to have a love for God and also a love for others.
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:39
WE TRY TO WALK WITH GOD
We know that God desires us to walk with him daily in prayer and bible reading.
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalm 1:2
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING DOCTRINALLY SOUND
We believe the "King James Bible” is the Word of God, therefore it will be used exclusively in the preaching and teaching of the church, and no other translation will be allowed.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Timothy 3:16
*** See our Statement of Faith in Appendix A (See Below)
WE TRY TO LIVE BIBLICALLY SEPARATED LIVES
We understand the importance of guarding our testimony and being an example to both Christians and non-Christians alike. As such we try to separate ourselves from the world in behaviors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, drugs, getting tattoos, movies, video games, music, online activities, people, organizations, and places that are wrong or even appear to be wrong.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2
"Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:22
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A PASTOR
We are thankful that the Lord has put our Pastor in place to lead and guide our church as God's under-shepherd. As long as no moral or heresy issue is involved, we will follow our Pastor as he follows Christ.
"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." Hebrews 13:7
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHURCH
Being a part of a Bible-Believing church is a blessing and we try to attend all the scheduled services of the Church unless providentially hindered.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING REGULAR GIVERS
We know the tithe is the Lord's and agree to be regular givers.
"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD." Leviticus 27:30
WE HAVE A HEART FOR SOULS
Telling others about Jesus Christ and giving them the gospel is a central theme in the Bible. We may have never won a soul to Christ, YET, we understand the importance of a Christian being an active and verbal witness for Christ! We try to be witness's for Christ all the time and then participate in the scheduled Soul-Winning times at the church.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
*** Read the "Life-Saving Station" in Appendix B (See Below)
WE UNDERSTAND GOD MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE
We know that God created men and women differently in life, purpose, and attire. Men should look and act like men, Women should look and act like women. You will notice that most women wear modest dresses or skirts to church.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:27
"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;" 1 Timothy 2:9
APPENDIX A - CHESAPEAKE BAPTIST STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. The Scriptures. We believe that the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is verbally inspired of God, inerrant, and is of supreme and final authority in faith and life (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21). (The King James Bible is the only English version we accept and use.)
2. The Godhead. We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1, 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19-20; John 10:29-30; II Corinthians 13:14; Romans 8:9)
3. The Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in: (1) His eternal existence as God (Hebrews 1:8; John 1:1); (2) His incarnation by means of the Virgin Birth (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18-23; Isaiah 7:14); (3) His death on the cross as the substitutionary atonement for sin (John 1:29; I Peter 2:24, 3:18; Isaiah 53:5); (4) His literal bodily resurrection from the dead (Luke 24:36-43; Acts 10:40-41); (5) His ascension in Heaven (Hebrews 7:25, 8:1-2; I John 2:1); (7) His personal premillennial return (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; Colossians 2:9).
4. The Holy Spirit. We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit and that His ministry is to reveal Christ to men in the regeneration and sanctification of their souls (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-6, 13-15; I Corinthians 3:16, 16:19-20: Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30).
5. Man. We believe that man was created by the direct act of God. He was created innocent and pure, but fell through the sin of disobedience, thereby affecting the whole human race (Genesis 1; Romans 5).
6. Satan. We believe in the reality and personality of Satan (Job 1:6-9, 2:3; Matthew 4:1-11; James 4:7; I Peter 5:8).
7. Salvation. We believe that salvation is solely by grace through faith in the vicarious substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who receive Christ are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become children of God. All who are saved are kept forever (Romans 10:9-13: John 1:12, 3:3-7, 10:27-29; I Peter 1:3-5).
8. The Church. We believe: (1) that the local church is composed of regenerated baptized believers, voluntarily united together for the purpose of worship, edification, fellowship, spiritual growth and service; (2) that it has been commissioned by Christ to propagate the Gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth; (3) that the local church has absolute right of self-government, free from interferences of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that the One and Only Head is Christ.
9. The Ordinances. We believe that Christ gave only two ordinances to the church to be observed “till He comes”. (1) The Lord’s Supper. This is a memorial of His death (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-60). (2) Baptism is immersion of a believer in water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, setting forth the essential facts in redemption—the death and resurrection of Christ; also the essential facts in the experience of the believer—death to sin and resurrection to newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4).
10. The Priesthood of the Believer. We believe every Christian has the right to approach God directly through Christ without the aid of human priests.
11. Separation. We believe Christians should “abstain from all appearances of evil” and live a life devoted unto the Lord (Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 5:22).
12. Missions. Because all men everywhere without Christ are lost and bound for eternal punishment, and because men cannot believe in Him of Whom they have not heard, we believe that we are debtors to all men and have the responsibility of giving them the Gospel. Jesus commanded us to be witnesses and proclaimers of the Gospel (Romans 1:18-20, 10:14; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21). We believe that to carry out this commission we must ourselves be witnesses by life and word. We must tell the lost about Christ. We must support by prayer and financial aid those who go out under a local Church to represent us in other parts of the world. We accomplish this through Faith promise Giving.
13. Gender Distinction: God created men and women different in life, purpose, and attire. You are born either a man or a woman, and as God has created you, it is a sin to try and be what you are not. Homosexuality, and all other forms of Lasciviousness, are not becoming of a Christian, and therefore cannot be tolerated in church membership. When one professes by statement or actions Homosexuality, or transsexualism in any of their various forms, their membership is terminated immediately, and are no longer allowed to serve in the church.
14. Future. The spirits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven. When Christ returns, theirs will be a resurrection of the righteous dead, who will then appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. The Lord will return to earth with the saints to judge the nations and rule on earth. The spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hell where they are kept under punishment unto the final day of the Great White Throne Judgment, at which time their bodies will be raised from the grave, they shall be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire (Philippians 1:21-23, 3:20-21; II Corinthians 5:8-10, I Corinthians 3:8-15, 15:35-58; I John 3:2; Luke 16:19-31: Revelation 20:11-15).
Authority Of Statement of Faith
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The King James Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members.
All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.
APPENDIX B - THE LIFE-SAVING STATION
WE ARE BIBLE-BELIEVERS
We believe the King James Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and agree with it being a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
"searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11
WE HAVE A LOVE FOR GOD
Everything we do begins with a love for God.
"thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart" Deuteronomy 6:4-5
WE HAVE A LOVE FOR OTHERS
Everything we do has to have a love for God and also a love for others.
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:39
WE TRY TO WALK WITH GOD
We know that God desires us to walk with him daily in prayer and bible reading.
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalm 1:2
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING DOCTRINALLY SOUND
We believe the "King James Bible” is the Word of God, therefore it will be used exclusively in the preaching and teaching of the church, and no other translation will be allowed.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Timothy 3:16
*** See our Statement of Faith in Appendix A (See Below)
WE TRY TO LIVE BIBLICALLY SEPARATED LIVES
We understand the importance of guarding our testimony and being an example to both Christians and non-Christians alike. As such we try to separate ourselves from the world in behaviors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, drugs, getting tattoos, movies, video games, music, online activities, people, organizations, and places that are wrong or even appear to be wrong.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2
"Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:22
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A PASTOR
We are thankful that the Lord has put our Pastor in place to lead and guide our church as God's under-shepherd. As long as no moral or heresy issue is involved, we will follow our Pastor as he follows Christ.
"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." Hebrews 13:7
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHURCH
Being a part of a Bible-Believing church is a blessing and we try to attend all the scheduled services of the Church unless providentially hindered.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING REGULAR GIVERS
We know the tithe is the Lord's and agree to be regular givers.
"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD." Leviticus 27:30
WE HAVE A HEART FOR SOULS
Telling others about Jesus Christ and giving them the gospel is a central theme in the Bible. We may have never won a soul to Christ, YET, we understand the importance of a Christian being an active and verbal witness for Christ! We try to be witness's for Christ all the time and then participate in the scheduled Soul-Winning times at the church.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
*** Read the "Life-Saving Station" in Appendix B (See Below)
WE UNDERSTAND GOD MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE
We know that God created men and women differently in life, purpose, and attire. Men should look and act like men, Women should look and act like women. You will notice that most women wear modest dresses or skirts to church.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:27
"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;" 1 Timothy 2:9
APPENDIX A - CHESAPEAKE BAPTIST STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. The Scriptures. We believe that the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is verbally inspired of God, inerrant, and is of supreme and final authority in faith and life (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21). (The King James Bible is the only English version we accept and use.)
2. The Godhead. We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1, 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19-20; John 10:29-30; II Corinthians 13:14; Romans 8:9)
3. The Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in: (1) His eternal existence as God (Hebrews 1:8; John 1:1); (2) His incarnation by means of the Virgin Birth (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18-23; Isaiah 7:14); (3) His death on the cross as the substitutionary atonement for sin (John 1:29; I Peter 2:24, 3:18; Isaiah 53:5); (4) His literal bodily resurrection from the dead (Luke 24:36-43; Acts 10:40-41); (5) His ascension in Heaven (Hebrews 7:25, 8:1-2; I John 2:1); (7) His personal premillennial return (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; Colossians 2:9).
4. The Holy Spirit. We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit and that His ministry is to reveal Christ to men in the regeneration and sanctification of their souls (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-6, 13-15; I Corinthians 3:16, 16:19-20: Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30).
5. Man. We believe that man was created by the direct act of God. He was created innocent and pure, but fell through the sin of disobedience, thereby affecting the whole human race (Genesis 1; Romans 5).
6. Satan. We believe in the reality and personality of Satan (Job 1:6-9, 2:3; Matthew 4:1-11; James 4:7; I Peter 5:8).
7. Salvation. We believe that salvation is solely by grace through faith in the vicarious substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who receive Christ are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become children of God. All who are saved are kept forever (Romans 10:9-13: John 1:12, 3:3-7, 10:27-29; I Peter 1:3-5).
8. The Church. We believe: (1) that the local church is composed of regenerated baptized believers, voluntarily united together for the purpose of worship, edification, fellowship, spiritual growth and service; (2) that it has been commissioned by Christ to propagate the Gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth; (3) that the local church has absolute right of self-government, free from interferences of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that the One and Only Head is Christ.
9. The Ordinances. We believe that Christ gave only two ordinances to the church to be observed “till He comes”. (1) The Lord’s Supper. This is a memorial of His death (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-60). (2) Baptism is immersion of a believer in water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, setting forth the essential facts in redemption—the death and resurrection of Christ; also the essential facts in the experience of the believer—death to sin and resurrection to newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4).
10. The Priesthood of the Believer. We believe every Christian has the right to approach God directly through Christ without the aid of human priests.
11. Separation. We believe Christians should “abstain from all appearances of evil” and live a life devoted unto the Lord (Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 5:22).
12. Missions. Because all men everywhere without Christ are lost and bound for eternal punishment, and because men cannot believe in Him of Whom they have not heard, we believe that we are debtors to all men and have the responsibility of giving them the Gospel. Jesus commanded us to be witnesses and proclaimers of the Gospel (Romans 1:18-20, 10:14; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21). We believe that to carry out this commission we must ourselves be witnesses by life and word. We must tell the lost about Christ. We must support by prayer and financial aid those who go out under a local Church to represent us in other parts of the world. We accomplish this through Faith promise Giving.
13. Gender Distinction: God created men and women different in life, purpose, and attire. You are born either a man or a woman, and as God has created you, it is a sin to try and be what you are not. Homosexuality, and all other forms of Lasciviousness, are not becoming of a Christian, and therefore cannot be tolerated in church membership. When one professes by statement or actions Homosexuality, or transsexualism in any of their various forms, their membership is terminated immediately, and are no longer allowed to serve in the church.
14. Future. The spirits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven. When Christ returns, theirs will be a resurrection of the righteous dead, who will then appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. The Lord will return to earth with the saints to judge the nations and rule on earth. The spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hell where they are kept under punishment unto the final day of the Great White Throne Judgment, at which time their bodies will be raised from the grave, they shall be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire (Philippians 1:21-23, 3:20-21; II Corinthians 5:8-10, I Corinthians 3:8-15, 15:35-58; I John 3:2; Luke 16:19-31: Revelation 20:11-15).
Authority Of Statement of Faith
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The King James Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members.
All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.
APPENDIX B - THE LIFE-SAVING STATION
On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought, for themselves they went out day or night tirelessly searching for the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little station, so that it became famous.
Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to associate and give their time and money. New boats were brought and new crews were trained. The little lifesaving station grew. Some of the new members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. So they replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they redecorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely.
Fewer members were now interested in going on lifesaving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews. The lifesaving motif still prevailed in the club decoration and there was a liturgical lifesaving boat in the meeting room. About this time, a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boatloads of cold, wet and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick and some of them had yellow skin. The beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside.
At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted upon lifesaving as their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did.
As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and today you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown!
Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to associate and give their time and money. New boats were brought and new crews were trained. The little lifesaving station grew. Some of the new members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. So they replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they redecorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely.
Fewer members were now interested in going on lifesaving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews. The lifesaving motif still prevailed in the club decoration and there was a liturgical lifesaving boat in the meeting room. About this time, a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boatloads of cold, wet and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick and some of them had yellow skin. The beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside.
At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted upon lifesaving as their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did.
As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and today you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown!
