God's Word

We believe that the King James Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of the living God for the English-speaking world. We do not attempt to change the Bible, we allow it to change us.

We interpret the Word of God literally in our preaching and teaching. Because of this, we are historic Premillennial and believe in the eternal damnation for all who refuse Christ as Savior in a literal place called Hell and the eternal bliss of all the redeemed in the presence of the Lord forever.

Salvation

We believe that salvation is by the grace of God through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross where He died, was buried and then rose again by His own power. After resurrection, the Lord Jesus carried His precious blood to the Mercy Seat of God in Heaven, and it is that same blood that saves sinners and washes them clean today. We cannot merit salvation, nor can we hope to save ourselves through works because we are completely depraved of our own righteousness as sinners.

Through the preaching of the Word of God, the Lord calls men to repentance from dead works, which is the heaven-sent truth that they must turn from any work or merit of their own in hope of salvation.  "Bad" works (lie, murder, idolatry, drunkenness, fornication, adultery, etc.) are dead because they condemn the soul.  "Good" works (church, baptism, religious service, turning over a new leaf, etc.) are just as dead because they are used by the sinner in hope to gain favor with God.

As the Holy Spirit applies the truth of God's Word to the listening sinner's heart, that sinner will be reproved, or come to the full realization that he must repent or perish.  As the Holy Spirit has led a sinner to this state, He will also point that sinner to the only way to have his sins removed - Jesus Christ! Once that sinner places his faith in the Lord, he will experience the new birth and will have the Holy Spirit take-up residence in his life. All sin will be removed from the account of that former sinner along with all the guilt and shame, without ANY works on the part of that sinner...Oh what a Savior!

Once a person experiences the new birth, he will be made a new creature by the power of God and will now be able to perform God's will in his life:

• Can understand the Bible
• Desires fellowship with true believers
• Wants a life that is clean and pleasing to God
• Can reach God in prayer
• Has new power to overcome temptation
• Wants to go to church...the right kind of church

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Because salvation is the responsibility of the Lord, so is perseverance. He will always keep His own throughout eternity.

After salvation, believers can sin. In these cases, the Lord deals with believers as His children and not as the eternal Judge Who will cast them into Hell (that is how He will deal with those who are not His children).  By the way, sinners will be judged by their "works."

Trust Christ alone for your salvation without any confidence placed in your own abilities, merits or works!  This is your ONLY HOPE!!!

Practical Holiness

Psalm 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

1Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, and is the Son of God as well as God the Son, possessing all of the attributes of God. He is eternal, completely sinless and unchangeable in His character. After paying the price for the sins of all mankind, the Lord Jesus rose from the dead by His own power and is seated in Heaven at the right hand of the Father interceding on the behalf of all the redeemed. In the fullness of time, the Lord Jesus will return to condemn the wicked, call all true believers to Himself, will set-up His political, 1,000-year Kingdom and will finally create a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein God will be all in all.

The Church

We believe that Jesus Christ established His church during His earthly ministry, and that it is called "Baptist" in this present day. However there are many churches called Baptist that are not, nor do they qualify as churches according to Scripture.

We believe in the locality, visibility, autonomy, independence, purity and unity of the church, without any involvement in denominations, conventions, associations, or other religious hierarchies.

We believe that the Great Commission is the marching order for the local church, and all the Lord’s work is done in and through the local church. That evangelists (Biblical term for “missionaries”) are sent out only by the local church, and not by individuals, schools, clearing houses, or mission boards.

We believe there are only two offices in the local church: bishops, as the overseer and under-shepherd of the flock; and deacons, as ordained servants appointed by the bishop to assist in the day-to-day operation of the church.  Pastors (teachers) and Evangelists are ordained elders to be used for the edification and extension of the body (local church).

We believe there are only two ordinances in the church --- believer’s baptism by immersion under the authority of a Baptist church and the closed or congregational observance of the Lord’s Supper.

We believe in the separation of the church and its members from worldliness, apostasy, heresy, or any questionable habits that would tarnish our Christian testimony or bring reproach to the name of Christ. Also the abstaining from membership of all secret, or religious organizations such as cults or lodges which promote unity of Christians with pagans in its framework.

We believe that the ecumenical movement (the coming together of all “christian” denominations in spite of doctrinal differences) is a catalyst for the Great Whore of Revelation and her harlot daughters and is in no way associated with Christ's church or its blessings.

Old Paths Baptist Church receives members only through baptism.  Please feel free to contact us concerning any questions.

All of our teachings come from the King James Bible. This way we know that we will have unity in doctrine and spirit. Because our doctrine comes straight from God, we do not apologize for our beliefs and practices. Whenever a person gets offended at Bible preaching it is because of a spiritual problem on the part of that person.