WHAT WE BELIEVE

The following are the core beliefs of Heritage based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be of divine authority and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. We believe that therein are revealed all the doctrines and truths which we here state and believe. (2 Tim. 3:15-17).

We believe in the existence, immutability, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and eternal perfections of the One and only true and living God (Exod. 3:14; Deut. 4:35; Deut. 6:4; Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 2:2-3; Ps. 90:2, Ps. 115:3, Ps. 139:7-10; Ecc. 3:14; Isa. 46:9; Jer. 10:10, Jer. 23:24; Mal. 3:6; Mark 12:29; John 4:24; 1 Cor. 8:6), Who exists as Three Persons – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19; John 1:1; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 5:7; Jude 20,21), Who was and is the Sovereign Creator, Upholder, Governor, and Judge of the universe. (Isa. 46:10; Dan. 4:35; John 10:15,30; Eph. 2:22; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:3; Heb. 9:14.)

We believe in the everlasting and unchangeable love of God (Jer. 31:3) and that before the foundation of the world the Father did elect a certain number of the human race unto everlasting salvation, whom He did predestinate unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:2-11; 1 Thess. 5:9; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 John 3:1; 1 Pet. 1:2, 2:9) and we believe that in fulfilling this gracious design, He did make a covenant of Grace and peace with the Son and with the Holy Ghost on behalf of those persons thus chosen (John 1:17) and that in this covenant the Son was appointed a Saviour, and all spiritual blessings provided for the elect, and also that their persons, with all the grace and glory designed for them were put into the hands of the Son as their Covenant Head and made His care and charge. (Ps. 111:8-9; Isa. 54:10, Isa. 55:3; John 6:37, John 17:2; Acts 4:12; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 2:13; Heb. 2:13; Heb. 6:17-18; Heb. 8:8-13.)

We believe in the Fall of our first parent, Adam, and that by it the whole of the human race became involved in, and guilty of, Original Sin; and that as they are born into the world the whole of their posterity are, in consequence, actual transgressors against God, (Rom. 5:12-21; Ps. 58:3) and we believe that by the fall all men were rendered both unable and unwilling spiritually to believe in, seek after, or love God until born again and called by the Holy Ghost. (Gen. 6:5; Gen. 8:21; Job 19:4; Job 24:4; Ps. 51:5; Jer. 13:23; Rom. 3:10-24; 1 Cor. 15:22; Eph. 2:3-10; John 5:19.)

We believe that the eternal redemption which Christ has obtained by the shedding of His blood is special and particular (Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12-15) that is to say, that it was intentionally designed only for the Elect of God, the Sheep of Christ; who, therefore, alone share in the special and peculiar blessings thereof. (Isa. 35:10; John 10:15; Acts 13:48; Acts 20:28; Rom. 5:8-10; Rom. 8:33-34; Rom. 9:13, 15, 16.)

We believe that sinners are justified before God alone by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. (Isa. 45:24; Isa. 64:6; Jer. 23:6, Rom. 4:4,5; Rom. 5:19; Rom. 10:4, 1 Cor. 1:30, 2 Cor. 5:21, Phil. 3:9.)

We believe the New Birth or being born again is not an act of man’s free will and natural power, but that it springs from the operation of the mighty, efficacious, and irresistible grace of God. (Ps. 110:3; John 1:13; John 3:7,8; John 6:44, 63, 65.)

We believe that all the regenerate are created in Christ Jesus unto good works, and that good works follow faith as a fruit of it, and that God works in His people both to will and to do of His good pleasure and that it is by their fruits that they are known. (Eph. 2:10, Phil. 2:12-13, John 13:35.)

We believe that saints are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation and shall never fall finally away. (1 Peter 1:5, John 10:28)

We believe in the resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, and a general judgment, and that the joys of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be everlasting. (Acts 24:15, John 5:28, 29.)

We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Christ, to be continued until His second coming and that believers are the only proper subjects for baptism and that immersion is the only mode, and that none except those who have been regularly baptized are admitted in the communion service; and that the washing of the saints’ feet is an example of love and humility which should be practiced by the members of our Church. (Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 11:24-29; Acts 8:36-38; John 13:1-17; 1 Tim. 5:10.)

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person biologically as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25). We believe that God’s word explicitly teaches that the physical union is to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate physical activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexuality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Heritage Primitive Baptist Church (HPBC) as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the HPBC members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by HPBC in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

We believe the message of God’s redemption and restoration is for anyone who confesses and forsakes their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.)

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Heritage Primitive Baptist Church.