Hilltop Baptist Church
Gospel Preaching ... Global Reaching
Our Beliefs
Statement of Faith
(A) The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal, grammatical-historical meaning. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21).
(B) Dispensationalism
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations - the law, the church, and the kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture (Gen. 1:28; I Cor. 9:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-27; Rev. 20:2-6).
(C) The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Duet. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 14:10,26; II Cor. 13:14).
(D) The Person and Work of Christ
(1) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4, 5; Phil. 2:5-8).
(2) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:22-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:17; I Peter 1:3-5; 2:24).
(3) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where as our High Priest He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; I John 2:1-2).
(E) The Person and the Work of the Holy Spirit
(1) We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor 3:6; Eph 1: 13-14; 4:30).
(2) 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 (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; I John 2:20, 27).
(3) We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists and pastor/teachers to equip believer in the assembly to do the work of the ministry (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12; I Peter 4:10-11).
(4) We believe that God gives spiritual enabling gifts to all believers for the edification of the body of Christ. We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were confirmational and temporary in nature, and ceased with the completion of the canon of Scriptures at the end of the first century AD. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. (Rom. 12:6-8; I Cor 12:4-11; 13:8-13; 14: 21-22; Eph 4:11-12; James 5: 14-15).
(F) The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is morally corrupt, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen 1:26-27; Rom 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Eph 2:1-3; 4:17-19).
(G) Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace alone and received by turning away from sin to personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; I Peter 1:18-19).
(H) The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
(1) We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom 8:1, 38, 39; Eph 2:8-9; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5).
(2) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which however clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom 13:13-14; Gal 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
(I) The Church
(1) We believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons (I Cor 12:12-14; II Cor 11:2; Eph 1:22-23; 5:25-27).
(2) We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
(3) We believe in the self-government of the local church free of any external authority or control (Acts 13: 1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom 16:1, 4; I Cor 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13;
I Peter 5:14).
(4) We recognize water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; I Cor 11:23-26).
(J) Separation
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 (Rom 12:1,2; 14:13; 16:17; I Cor 5:9-13; II Cor 6:14- 7:1; II Tim 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11).
(K) The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in that “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel (Ps. 89:34; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech 14:4-11; I Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).
(L) The Eternal State
(1) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to judgment for rewards, and the unsaved to judgment for everlasting punishment (Matt 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev 20:5-6, 12-15).
(2) We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, were is conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; II Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; 3:21; I Thess 4:16-17; Rev 20:4-6).
(3) We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment in hell until the second resurrection, when in spirit, soul, and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, be judged according to their evil deeds and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment (Matt 25:41-46; Mark 9:43- 48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thess 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev 20:11-15).
(M) The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the tempter who led to the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6-7; Isa 14:12-17; Matt 4:1-11; 25:41; Rev 20:10).
(N) Creation
We believe that God created the universe in six, literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11).
(O) Civil Government
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God (Rom 13:1-7; Eph 5:22-24; Heb 13:17; I Peter 2:13-14).
(P) Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded abstinence from sexual activity except in marriage between a man and a woman. All forms of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex (Gen 2:24; 19:5,13; Lev 18:1-30; 20:10-16; Rom 1:26-29; I Cor 5:1; 6:9; I Thess 4:1-8; Heb 13:4).
(Q) Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that marriage is binding until the death of your spouse: God hates divorce. The occurrence of remarriage during the lifetime of your former spouse is adultery. Although divorced or remarried persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God, they may not be considered for the offices of elder or deacon (Mal 2:14-17; Matt 19:3-12; Rom 7:1-3; I Cor 7:10-15, 27,39; I Tim 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6).
(R) Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion at any stage constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of human life: it is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Ps 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa 44:24; 49:1,5; Jer 1:5; 20:15-18).
(S) Missions
We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use every legitimate means to go into all the world and make disciples (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46, 48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Cor 5:20).
(T) Lawsuits Between Believers
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander (I Cor 6:1-8; Eph 4:31-32).
(U) Giving
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen 14:20; Prov 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Cor 16:2; II Cor 9:6-7; Gal 6:6; Eph 4:28; I Tim 5:17-18: I John 3:17).
(V) Music
We believe that music provides a medium whereby believers may worship God in spirit and truth. Music which appeals to or reflects the old man in any way, form, or fashion has no place in the life of the new man and particularly his corporate worship (Eph 5:19-20; John 4:24; Col 3:1, 9-10; 16-17).
Activity Schedule
9:45 A.M
Sunday School
10:45 A.M
Children's Church
Morning Worship
6:00 P.M.
Evening Worship
Wednesday
Sunday
7:00 P.M.
Midweek Worship
AWANA