Articles of Faith & Practices of Ambassador Baptist Church

As members of Ambassador Baptist Church, we subscribe to the following Doctrines and Practices of the Christian Faith in accordance with Scriptures.

Section A : Doctrines

1.The Bible

1. WE BELIEVE in the plenary, verbal, Divine inspiration of the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and the New Testaments (from Genesis to Revelation) in the original languages, and in their consequent infallibility and inerrancy in all matters of which they speak (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). The books known as the Apocrypha, however, are not the inspired Word of God in any sense whatsoever. As the Bible uses it, the term “inspiration” refers to the writings, not the writers (2 Timothy 3:16-17); the writers are spoken of as being “holy men of God” who were “moved,” “carried” or “borne” along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally, plenarily, and verbally inspired, free from any error, infallible, and inerrant, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
2. WE BELIEVE that the Texts which are the closest to the original autographs of the Bible are the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text for the Old Testament, and the traditional Greek Text (Received Text / Textus Receptus) for the New Testament underlying the King James Version (as found in “The Greek Text Underlying The English Authorized Version of 1611”).
3. WE BELIEVE that the King James Version (or Authorized Version) of the English Bible is a true, faithful, and accurate translation of these two providentially preserved Texts, which in our time has no equal among all of the other English Translations. The translators did such a fine job in their translation task that we can without apology hold up the Authorized Version of 1611 and say “This is the Word of God!” while at the same time realizing that, in some verses, we must go back to the underlying original language Texts for complete clarity, and also compare Scripture with Scripture.
4. WE BELIEVE that all the verses in the King James Version belong in the Old and the New Testaments because they represent words we believe were in the original texts, although there might be other renderings from the original languages which could also be acceptable to us today. For an exhaustive study of any of the words or verses in the Bible, we urge the student to return directly to the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and- the Traditional Received Greek Text rather than to any other translation for help.
5. WE DO NOT BELIEVE God gives new truths today as propagated by the Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches and those of the same line, because God placed a severe warning of eternal damnation in the book of Revelations 22:18-19. GOD does not act in contradiction to His given word as that would tantamount to being inconsistent and a GOD not just, which is impossible for as He is immutable (Malachi 3:6)

2. The Doctrine of GOD

1. WE BELIEVE in one God, co-existing eternally in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:1; 1 John 5:7)

3. The Doctrine of Christ

1. WE BELIEVE in the eternal deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of virgin Mary, became man without ceasing to be God, and that He lived a perfect and sinless life on earth and is crucified, buried and on the third day rose again, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (John 1:1, 14,18; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22,23; 1 John 3:5; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 3; Romans 4:25)
2. WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, appeared physically before many witnesses and after forty days ascended to Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for the saints. (Acts 1: 1 – 11 / Hebrews 4:16)
3. We believe that as our Lord Jesus rose bodily and visibly from the grave and ascended into heaven to be enthroned on the right hand of the Father, He will likewise return personally, visibly, bodily and imminently, to this earth after the Tribulation to set up a literal millennium kingdom in which He will rule as the King of kings and the Lord of lords for a thousand years. His second advent is essential to the fulfillment of God’s plan for all mankind, after which He will deliver up the kingdom to the Father. (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelations 20:4, 6)

4. The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

1. WE BELIEVE in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit that it is by His energy that sinners are brought under conviction of sin and are drawn to Christ for salvation, that through Him, men are regenerated and sanctified that by Him the saints are indwelt with the divine presence, and that by His endowment and endowment, God’s people are enable to serve the Lord acceptably.
2. WE BELIEVE also that He is the Divine Witness, Seal, Earnest, Anointing, Guide, Teacher, and Administrator. (John 16: 7–11)
3. WE BELIEVE that the divine gift of tongues which was used primarily as a sign to the unbelieving Jews and secondarily for edification in the church in the absence of the Holy Scriptures, was terminated and never to reappear when its uses were over as can be seen in the scattering of the nation of Israel in AD70 and in the completion of the canon of the Bible. The speaking of tongues is not essential to the salvation of man nor is it an essential sign of the infilling of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. To say thus is to promote error, and to preach another gospel than that already revealed in Scripture. (Acts 2:1 – 4 / 1 Corinthians 14:21 / Deuteronomy 28:49 / Isaiah 28:11-12/ Jeremiah 5:15)
4. WE DO NOT BELIEVE that there is a second blessing for a deeper life, a stronger or bolder witness. There is only one baptism of the Holy Spirit by which we are all baptized into Christ (Matthew 3:11), this referring to salvation.  How much a believer has power with GOD is directly related to how much the believer is willing to surrender to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

5. The Doctrine of the Church

1. WE BELIEVE the Church to be a body of immersed believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel. And that this body is visible, having absolute right of the Gospel, and that this body is visible, having absolute right of self-government. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41)
2. WE BELIEVE in the absolute necessity of maintaining the purity and unity of the local Church, according to the Word of God, in doctrine, discipline and practice by those who are members of the Church by virtue of their obedience to Christ in salvation and water baptism. 1 Corinthians 1:8
3. WE BELIEVE that the church and state are two different institutions ordained by God for different purposes and as such they should remain separate during this present world. (Matthew 22:21)
4. WE BELIEVE that it is unscriptural for church or churches of unlike faith to cooperate with one another to perpetuate the Lord’s Work as unity without doctrinal agreement because this is gross disobedience in the sight of God Almighty. (Romans 16:17)
5. WE BELIEVE in the water baptism of believers which symbolizes the believer’s union with Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection and that immersion is the only scriptural method for this ordinance. (Romans 6:1 – 4 ; 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 3)
6. WE BELIEVE that in the Lord’s Supper, only members of the local church by the sacred use of the bread and cup containing the fruit of the vine (grape juice), are to commemorate together the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us; and preceded always by solemn self–examination. The observance of the Lord’s Supper commemorates and proclaims the Sacrifice of our Savior for all mankind till His return. (Matthew 26:26 – 30 / 1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 31)

6. The Doctrine of Man

1. WE BELIEVE that man is sinful by nature and choice and is totally unable to remedy his lost condition except with the Grace of God. (Psalms 51:5; Romans 3:23)

7. The Doctrine of Salvation

1. WE BELIEVE that salvation of man’s eternal soul begins with man’s hearing of the word of GOD, and realizing their lost and sinful condition (Isaiah 6:1- 8; Ephesians 1:13; John 5:24). Upon the reception of this knowledge of the awful sinfulness of sin and the terrible holiness to punish sin, the individual , who understands the wrath of God (John 3:36; Romans 6:23a; Matthew 25:46) , repents (Luke 13:3,5) of their sin toward God and putting personal faith and trusting in Jesus Christ, (Acts 20:21; Ephesians 1:13, John 5:24, John 6:40, Romans 10: 9 – 13). This repentance towards God and faith and trust towards Christ’s finished work at the cross, effects the regeneration / spiritual rebirth brought about by the Holy Spirit of God (Titus 3:5). Salvation is purely the gift of God granted to sinful man by the grace of God, and God’s mercy, whose atoning blood was shed on the cross once and for all for the forgiveness of sins. (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 10:10). There is nothing in the sinner, nor in the works of man that can secure salvation.
2. WE BELIEVE that the life of the believer is to be separated from worldliness by consistent Christian living and conduct before God and man, and to be in the world as a witness to the life-giving Light. (1 John 2:15 – 17 ; 1 Peter 1:16,17; 2 Corinthians 6;14 – 18)

8. On the Government

1. WE BELIEVE that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured and obeyed; except only in the things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Lord of our conscience. (Ro 13:1; Acts 5:29)

Section B : Practices

1. BAPTISM: The observance of the Baptism of believers is by immersion on personal confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:35-38; 10:44-48) We do not subscribe and do stand against infant baptism as an erroneous teaching foreign to the Words of our Lord Jesus. The method for baptism is only by immersion and other methods such as sprinkling, pouring are not the prescribed biblical method because these two methods does not at all symbolise the death, burial and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus (Romans 6). There is also the proper authority to baptize and the authority to baptize is vested in the adherence to the complete word of GOD (Matthew 28:16 – 20). Any departure from the word of GOD will constitute unfaithfulness on our part as a church and as such, Ambassador Baptist Church will lose the authority from GOD to baptize.
2. THE LORD’S SUPPER: The remembrance of the Lord’s death through the Lord’s Supper shall be observed regularly, and all baptized members in the local church whose conduct is consistent with their confession of their faith shall be received at the Lord’s table. (Luke 22:14-29; Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7; Romans 14:1-9; 15:7; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 11:23-26) The elements of the unleaven bread and fruit of the vine are only symbolic and do not turn into the body and blood of the Lord Jesus.
3. MUSIC: Music is a vital part of worship. It is clearly taught in Scripture that God wants us to sing unto the Lord with all our hearts, and to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. We are to use Psalms (make melody, a metrical composition, and more specifically the book of Psalms), Hymns (a song celebrating the goodness of God) and spiritual songs (the song that must have both its words and music that is of a spiritual nature). All psalms, hymns and spiritual songs MUST hold lyrics consistent with Biblical doctrine and have music that will be consistent with the lyrics, the intention and the presentation of the song.
   

   “How do you understand what good Christian music is? It ought to sound different from the rock station, the easy listening station the entertainment music. When we sing gospel songs in the good old-fashioned way, they don’t sound like anything that the world sings. That’s the way we need to keep it.”

   Evangelist Alan Ives, former rock & roll band member

4. We do not use contemporary Christian music even though its words may be Biblical because the primary message comes through the music. We believe the devil knows music and has used it effectively to intrude into and invade, corrupt and many times render effective the church because of its subtle influence on the flesh. (Ezekiel 28:13; Galatians 5:16,17)
5. FELLOWSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP: Every member subject to the worship of Christ shall participate in fellowship, prayer and instruction of believers and the exercise of spiritual gifts for the edification of the Church. (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:1-16; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 4:7-11)
6. EVANGELISM & MISSIONS: The local Church, in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, both as individual and collective witnesses, shall proclaim the gospel to their families, immediate neighbors, nation as well as to regions beyond. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 2:9; 3:15)
7. STEWARDSHIP: Every member has the responsibility and privilege to contribute of his gifts, talents, time and resources to the work of God and the extension of His Kingdom. It is also the responsibility and privilege of each member to give freely and contribute willingly, regularly and generously according to his ability as God enables. (Romans 12:1-13; 1 Corinthians. 6:19-20; 16:1-2; 1 Corinthians 8 & 9)
8. LEADERSHIP: The Senior Pastor is God’s appointed overseer of the Church and as such is under a serving responsibility to take this with propriety and honor, to dispatch his responsibility to take this with propriety and honor, to dispatch his responsibility and duties faithfully with prime objective of shepherding the flocks as Christ would desire.
   1. The Pastor’s qualification for office is specified in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and duties are outlined in 1 Peter 5:1-3. The Deacon’s qualification for office is specified in 1 Timothy 3:8-13; and duties involve their assisting the Pastor in the administration and Service of the Church (Acts 6:1-4)
   2. The Pastors as well as evangelists as enjoined by scripture shall receive due respect and recognition by all Church members (1 Tim. 5:17-19).
9. WORSHIP: All members shall meet regularly for the public worship of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit on the Lord’s Day and shall maintain family and personal devotion (Psalms 27:4; Hebrews 10:24, 25; Song of Solomon 1:6; Psalms 122:1; Psalms 1:1-3).
   1. The use of worship songs must be consistent with the spiritual nature of GOD, the sacredness of Holiness, and focus on Melody as this ministers primarily to the soul and spirit of man. The sanctified use of such music assists the individual in preparing the heart for a welcoming of the word of GOD. We reject the use of songs that caters to the flesh, e.g. rock,  jazz and music that stirs up the flesh, having a predominantly strong beat. This ministry to the flesh would hinder the individual from pure worship and consequently, distract the soul from hearing clearly the words of a holy God. Should there be dilemma as to whether a song should be used or if the music is contrary to biblical and musical principles, we take the biblical counsel of Romans 14:23, to avoid it altogether.