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We Believe

The Victory Baptist Church of Darlington doctrinal statement

The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments were “God-breathed”, or given by inspiration of God, resulting in a product that was inerrant and infallible in the original autographs. They did not contain any error, and they were incapable of error because God the Holy Spirit superintended their writing.

We believe that God has fulfilled His promise to preserve His Word for every generation of human history, through copies and translations of those original writings.

We believe that inspiration applied only to the autographs, but that their words have been accurately retained through God’s preservation.

We believe that the original manuscripts are best represented by the traditional texts; i.e., the Hebrew Masoretic text in the Old Testament and the set of manuscripts known as the Textus Receptus in the New Testament, because the Masoretic text is closer to the original than the Biblia Hebraica/ Stuttgart and the Textus Receptus is closer to the original than are the manuscripts of the Westcott and Hort tradition.

We believe that the King James Version of the Bible is the best English translation available, not only because it is an accurate, faithful, and reliable translation, but because it is a translation of the best Hebrew and Greek texts, and that the English reader can study and rely upon it with utmost confidence. Since its translation, it is apparent that God’s blessing has been upon the King James Version of the Bible in a way that God’s blessing has not been upon any other English version of the Bible.

We believe that consistency of position demands that we use only the above-mentioned Hebrew and Greek texts and the King James Version of the Bible in all church services.

We believe, however, that there are Independent Fundamental Baptists who love God and His Word, who take a different position on the text and the King James Version, and that the textual issue should not be a test of personal fellowship among brethren. At the same time, we do not believe that the King James Version of the Bible was given by inspiration of God. Then, can we say that the King James Version of the Bible is the inspired word of God? Yes, we can. While it was not given by inspiration of God, it is an accurate translation of what was given by inspiration of God. It is, therefore, the inspired word of God, as a result of preservation.

We believe that the Bible is indestructible and forever settled in Heaven; and that it is the supreme standard by which all human conduct should be tried. Therefore, it is the sole authority for faith and practice.

We believe that the Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical, historical, dispensational meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning shall be determined by the pastor in agreement with this Constitution. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

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. Another predominant mark of dispensational theology is that it makes a clear distinction between national Israel and the institution of the church, and rejects what is commonly called Covenant and Reformed Theology. (Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; Rev. 20:2-6)

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. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 14:10, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14)

The Person and Work of Christ

1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal 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 men. (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 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 representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

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; 1 John 2:1-2)

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the person Who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling and sealing all believers unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14)

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; 1 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 believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12)

4. We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. The ultimate deliverance of the physical 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. (1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)

The Sin Nature of Man

We believe that man was created sinless and innocent in the image and likeness of God but that in Adam’s willful sin, the human race fell and inherited a sinful nature which manifests itself in sinful choices. By nature, and choice, man also has incurred both spiritual and physical death, and become alienated from God. This alienation will culminate in eternal second death, apart from salvation. Man is without good and utterly unable to remedy his lost condition before God by any meritorious works. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to every man by grace and received by personal, volitional faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, apart from works, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable. We reject the man-made systems of Calvinism and Arminianism as expressions of our beliefs concerning the nature of man and the means of his salvation. (Matt. 12:31-32; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:9)

1. Regeneration – We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God, and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and newness of life. (John 3:8, 33; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:19; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:4)

2. Justification – We believe that justification is the judicial act of God whereby He declares us to be righteous by faith in Christ Jesus; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the imputation of God’s righteousness; and that it is bestowed solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood sacrifice, not by any work which we have done. (Acts 13:3, 9; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:18-25; Eph. 1:7)

3. Sanctification – We believe that sanctification is an act and a process whereby God sets apart believers unto holiness. He then conforms them to the image of Christ and completes the process of sanctification at the return of Christ for His saints. (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 1:3-4; 4:11-13; Philippians 1:6; I1 John 3:2)

4. Glorification – We believe that all believers will be changed in the twinkling of an eye and will become like Christ at His appearing, that their mortal bodies will become immortal, and that their corruptible bodies will become incorruptible. (1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 John 3:2)

5. Repentance – We believe that repentance is a change of mind about sin and God. It is prompted by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God and is characterized by godly sorrow for sin as offensive to God and damning to the soul. We believe that repentance is essential for salvation. (Luke 13:1-5; 15:17-18; Acts 8:22; 20:21; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:10)

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; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 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)

The Church

1. We believe that the local church, which is the body and part of the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons Scripturally baptized by immersion. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27; Rev. 21)

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; 1Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

3. We believe in the autonomy (i.e., the ability and mandate for self-government) of the local church, free of any external authority or control. As such, Victory Baptist Church is the sole judge of the measure and methods of its cooperation with other Scriptural, NT churches. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)

4. We believe there are only two Scriptural ordinances for the NT local church: Water Immersion and the Lord’s Table. They are purely symbolical, not sacramental.

a. We believe that Biblical Baptism is the single immersion of the believer in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; that it pictorially sets forth the essential facts of redemption–the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that it gives testimony to the change that has occurred in the believer’s life: death to sin and resurrection to walk in the newness of life. Baptism, which follows salvation, is an act of obedience and is prerequisite for church membership. There is no saving power in baptism. (Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:4-6)

b. We believe that the Lord’s Table is a memorial which shows His death until He comes again; that the bread and the cup are only symbols of His broken body and shed blood; and that our observance of it is pictorial of the believer’s fellowship with Christ and His body, the local church, after a time of searching and self-judgment. (Matt. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 10:16-21; 11:17-34)

5. We believe unapologetically that Victory Baptist Church shall ever be a Baptist church in name. We reject the trend that bows to cultural and social pressure and removes the name Baptist from church documents, literature, publications, and signs.

Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly Dand sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances, piercings, and bodily markings. (Lev. 19:28; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)

The Rapture and Second Advent of Christ

We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ, Who will rapture believers 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. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; 1 Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)

The Eternal State

1. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life,

and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)

2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the

body and present with the Lord where, in conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)

3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment in hell until the second resurrection when, with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment 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; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)

The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a person and the agent of deception which entices mankind to choose to sin, that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. He is assisted in his rebellious efforts by fallen angels, also recognized as demons. Although a lost man can be demonically possessed, we reject any teaching which purports that any part of a born-again individual can be indwelt by a demonic being, that is demonization of the believer. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

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. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)

Civil Government

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the local church, and 3) civil government. 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 principles to obey. When obeyed, each institution’s responsibility will be fulfilled without contradiction or infringement on the others. Therefore, the unity of obedience to God’s institutions of authority results in all men being able to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Every Christian should be an active, conscientious, and obedient citizen. All officials of civil government should be prayed for, honored, and obeyed. However, should civil government ever require compliance of Christian citizens in areas which are directly opposed to the revealed will of God in the Bible, the Christian ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 4:19-20; 5:27-29; Rom. 13: 1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14)

Human Sexuality

1. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

2. We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one natural born male human and one natural born female human. No other marriage union will be recognized or performed by Victory Baptist Church. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)

Family Relationships

1. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the local church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the local church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the local church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)

2. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)

Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Fornication, as noted in Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:9, is a reference back to the forbidden relationships of Leviticus 18:6-30 (i.e., relationships which God never sanctioned as marriage in the first place). When divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons realize the adultery of their situation and repent of it, they are forgiven by God. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or 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; Luke 1:44)

Euthanasia

We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus, We believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment. (Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)

Love

We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or the use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)

Lawsuits Between Believers

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the local 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. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)

Missions

We believe that God has given the local church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations 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 all legitimately available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)

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 (10% of gross income) as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the local 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 his tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17) Furthermore, We believe the financial needs of this church shall be met by the voluntary tithes, offerings, and contributions of its members and friends. No entertainment, suppers, bazaars, rummage sales, etc., shall be given by the church or its auxiliary organizations for fund-raising purposes. With the approval of the pastor and deacons, special offerings may be taken apart from those received in regular services.

Pastor

Frank Camp

Address

633 W Smith Ave
Darlington, SC 29532

Services

Sunday School • 10 am
Sunday Worship • 11 am
Sunday Evening • 5 pm
Wednesday Prayer • 7 pm