Piney Grove Baptist Church is a member of the Eastern Conference of the South Carolina
State Association of the Free Will Baptist. While we subscribe to the principals of the
conference, we recognize that ultimately the government of this church is vested in the body of
the members who compose it. The church is autonomous and subject to the control of no other
ecclesiastical body, but it recognize
s and sustains the obligation of mutual counsel and
cooperation, which are common among Free Will Baptist Churches. In so far as practical, this
church will cooperate with and support the Eastern Conference of the South Carolina State
Association of the Free Will Baptist so long as the conference remains a fundamental
denomination and its mission, statement of faith, and covenant(s) reflect those of our own as set
forth hereinafter. STATEMENT OF FAITH
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, therefore are 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 this church. The Godhead
There is one living and true God, revealed in nature as the Creator, Preserver, and Righteous Governor of the universe; and in the Scriptures as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; yet as one God, infinitely wise and good, whom all intelligent creatures are supremely to love, adore, and obey. The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. The Son of God by His incarnation, life, sufferings, death, resurrection, provided for all redemption of sin that is full and free, and is the foundation of salvation by faith alone. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person Who convicts the world of sin, 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 until the day of redemption. We believe that the sign of gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism of the filling of the Holy Spirit and that the ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of the resurrection, though God frequently choose to answer prayers of the believer for healing. 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 totally depraved and of himself utterly unable to redeem his lost condition. Salvation
We believe that salvation is a gift of God brought to man by grace and received by the
personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for
the forgiveness of our sins. We believe that God offers redemption, restoration, and salvation to all who
confess and forsake their sins, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus
Christ.
2. The security of the believer is conditional. This doctrine stands opposed to the
doctrine that God elects some people to be saved and others to be damned. It
also stands in opposition to the popular doctrine that teaches “once saved always
Saved”. The Church
We believe that the local church is the body and the espoused part of Christ, and is solely made up of born again persons. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. We believe in the authority of the local church free of any external authority and control. We recognize water baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Washing of the Saints Feet as the only three scriptural ordinances of the church. Separation
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as to not bring a reproach
on their Savior and Lord. We also believe that the separation from all religious apostasy
and all sinful practices and associations are commanded by God. Second Advent of Christ
We believe in the blessed hope, and the personal and imminent return of Christ, who
will rapture His church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. We also believe at the
end of the tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish
His earthly kingdom. The Eternal State
(Resurrection, Judgment, and Final Retribution) The scriptures teach the resurrection
of all men at the last day. Those who’ve been saved will come forth at the resurrection
of life; those who have rejected Christ-the resurrection of damnation. Those who have
rejected Christ will go away to eternal punishment (in the Lake of Fire), but the
righteous unto eternal life (Heaven). The Personality of Satan
We believe that the person Satan is the enemy of both God and man. He is
powerless against God but God has purposed within Himself to use the evil of Satan
for His Glory. Satan did not cause the fall of man but it was Satan who first tempted
man to sin and Satan will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire for his rebellion
against God. Creation
We believe that God created the universe in six literal twenty-four (24) hour periods. Civil Government
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three (3) basic
Institutions:
1. Church
3. 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 with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe
upon the other. Marriage, Gender, and Human Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological s*x 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 biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18-25). We believe that God intends s*xual intimacy to occur only between a biological man and a biological woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate s*xual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a biological man and a biological woman. We believe that any form of s*xual immorality, including but not limited to s*xual activity engaged in outside of marriage, homos*xuality, lesbianism, bios*xuality, be******ty, bigamy, in**st, fornication, adultery, po*******hy and/or any attempt to change one’s s*x or disagreement with one’s biological s*x is a sinful act of perversion of God’s gift of s*x and offensive to God. We further believe that any s*xual, physical, or intimate act upon or against the will of a person or against an individual who lacks the ability to comprehend the nature of such actions, including but not limited to s*xual assault, s*xual harassment, molestation, r**e, pe******ia, inappropriate physical contact or gestures, suggestive and/or inappropriate language or communications are sinful acts that are harmful to mankind and offensive to God and further harmful to the spreading of the Gospel. We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Piney Grove Baptist Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a Biblical role model to the Piney Grove Baptist Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Piney Grove Baptist Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-16; 1 Thes. 5:12). Fellow Man
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 Piney Grove Baptist Church. Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is
of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the
physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception
through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139)
AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT AND FAITH
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith and/or beliefs. The King James Version Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Piney Grove Baptist Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor and Board of Deacons are the final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
