Located half-way between M-99 and US-127
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship - 10:45 AM
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Wednesday Studies/Prayer - 7:00 PM
Questions? We are an elder-led, conservative, evangelical assembly discovering and serving an unhindered God. ARTICLES OF FAITH
(adapted from the GARBC Articles of Faith)
I. Of the Scriptures -- We believe in the authority and sufficienc
y of the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as originally written; that it was verbally and plenarily inspired and is the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore is infallible and inerrant in all matters of which it speaks. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creed and opinions shall be tried. 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:19-21. The True God -- We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in all the works of God, including the great work of redemption. Exodus 20:2,3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11. The Holy Spirit -- We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the Agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. John 14:16,17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5,6; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14,16,26,27. Angels and the Devil -- We believe that angels are created beings and therefore not to be worshipped. Although they are a higher order of creation than men, they are created to serve God, be his messengers and worship Him. If they sin, they are fallen and there is no provision for redemption for them. Satan is an angel who incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, taking numerous angels with him in his fall, and introducing sin into the human race by his deception of Eve. Satan is the open, declared enemy of God and accuser of man; the prince of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire. Genesis 3:1-15, Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezek. 28:11-19, Matt. 4:1-11, 25:41, Rev. 12:10;20:10. Creation -- We believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and man; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race. Genesis 1; 2; Colossians 1:16,17; John 1:3. The Fall of Man -- We believe that man was created in innocence (in the image and likeness of God) under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his sinless and happy state, and all men sinned in him, in consequence of which all men are totally depraved, are partakers of Adam's fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct, and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; 5:12,19; 1:18,32. VII. The Person and Work of Christ
A. The Virgin Birth of Christ -- We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of-woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God, the Son. Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14. B. Salvation through Christ -- We believe that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who, by the appointment of the Father, voluntarily took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience, thus qualifying Himself to be our Savior; that by the shedding of His blood in His death He fully satisfied the just demands of a holy and righteous God regarding sin; that His sacrifice consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior. We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. Repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit and is an integral part of saving faith. Jonah 2:9; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24, 25; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7, 8; Hebrews 2:14-17; Isaiah 53:4-7; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24. C. The Resurrection and Priesthood of Christ -- We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ and in His ascension into Heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father as our Advocate and High Priest interceding for us and ruling as Lord of all creation. Matthew 28:6, 7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6, 51; Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 8:6; 12:2; 7:25; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9, 10; Ephesians 1:20-21. VIII. Grace and the New Birth -- We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a 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; that the new creation is brought about by our sovereign God in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life. John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:1; Acts 16:20-33; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1,5; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8. IX. Justification -- We believe that justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares the believer righteous upon the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any work of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's shed blood. Romans 3:24; 4:5; 5:1,9; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9. X. Sanctification -- We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished in a threefold manner; first, an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Savior; second, a continuing process in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life; third, the final accomplishment of this process at the Lord's return. Hebrews 10:10-14; 3:1; John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4; 5:23,24; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24,25; Revelation 22:11. XI. The Security of the Saints -- We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6; John 10:28,29; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 1. XII. The Church -- We believe that a local church is an organized congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are elders and deacons, whose qualifications are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. 1 Corinthians 11:2; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Acts 2:41,42. We believe in the unity of all New Testament believers in the Church which is the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 3:1-6; 4:11; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Acts 15:13-18. XIII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper -- We believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior, through Whom we died to sin and rose to a new life; that baptism is to be performed under the authority of the local church; and that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He come, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. We believe that the preferred sequence of the ordinances is baptism first and then the Lord's Supper. Acts 8:36,38,39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:16; 28:18-20; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Acts 2:41,42. XIV. Separation -- We believe in obedience to the Biblical commands to separate ourselves unto God from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy. 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Romans 16:17; 2 John 9-11. XV. Civil Government -- 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 honored, and obeyed; except in those things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming King of kings. Romans 13:1-7; 2 Sam. 23:3; Exodus 18:21, 22; Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; 4:19,20; Daniel 3:17, 18. XVI. Israel -- We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's eternal covenant people, that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that she will be regathered in the Holy Land and, after the completion of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ. Genesis 13:14-17; Romans 11:1-32; Ezekiel 37. XVII. Rapture and Subsequent Events -- We believe in the premillennial return of Christ, an event which can occur at any moment, and that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, and the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting death, and all shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air before the seven years of the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20, 21; Revelation 3:10. We believe that the Tribulation, which follows the Rapture of the Church, will be culminated by the revelation of Christ in power and great glory to sit upon the throne of David and to establish the millennial kingdom. Daniel 9:25-27; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 9:6,7; 11:1-9; Acts 2:29,30; Revelation 20:1-4, 6. XVIII. The Righteous and the Wicked -- We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who are justified by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in the lake of fire. Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17, 18; 1 John 5:19; Romans 7:6; 6:23; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21; Revelation 20:14,15.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSTITUTION
(being the Articles of Incorporation adopted by the congregation on April 4, 2004)
Article I. Name -- The name of the church is Columbia Road Baptist Church. Article II. Purpose -- The purpose of the Church, shall be to carry out, as fully as possible, the Great Commandment (Matt 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20) of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Church, His earthly body: To worship Him in spirit and in truth, to witness for Him in our community and throughout the world, to observe His ordinances, and to seek to build up his people in all spiritual grace. Article III. Religious Purposes -- The Church is organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes. No substantial part of the activity of the Church shall consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Church shall not participate in, or intervene in any partisan political campaign, including publishing or distributing statements on behalf of any candidate for public office. Article IV. Church Property -- The property of the Church is irrevocably dedicated for religious purposes, and no part of the net income or assets of the Church shall ever inure to the benefit of any private person. In the event of the dissolution of the Church, its assets remaining after payment, or provision of payment of all debts and liabilities of the Church shall be turned over to a non-profit fund, foundation or corporation that is organized and operated exclusively for Christian purposes. Article V. Autonomy -- Columbia Road Baptist Church of Mason, Ingham County, Michigan shall be and remain independent and autonomous. However, the church may participate in membership or activities with organizations of like doctrine for the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as long as it does not infringe upon the independence or autonomy of the church. Article VI. Real Estate -- All instruments pertaining to real estate shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board of Deacons. The signature of this officer shall be conclusive provided that he holds said office and has been authorized to execute said instrument by members of the Church as herein provided. Article VII. Non-Profit -- The church shall not be for profit; it shall have no stock or fixed capital. Article VIII. Membership -- Worshippers shall be recognized as Members of this Church according to Biblical standards of fellowship and discipleship (Matt 28:20). A majority vote of interested Members shall be decisive in matters of church discipline (Gal 6:1; Matt 18:15-17; 1 Cor 5:4-5; 2 Cor 2:6). Article IX. Elders -- The Elders, acting not as dictators but as examples, shall exercise pastoral authority in all matters pertaining to doctrine, discipleship, fellowship, and worship in the Church. An Elder's qualifications and functions shall be those of a bishop (I Tim. 3:2-7; Tit 1:5-9; Acts 20: 28; I Pet 5:1-3) Any man (a recognized member of the Church) may be ordained as an Elder (1 Tim 3:1) unless more than three members agree that he has a specific verifiable Scriptural disqualification. Article X. Deacons -- The Deacons shall be the legal Trustees of the Church, with authority in all financial, contractual, and benevolent ministries, including missionary support. They and the deaconesses shall be sought out from among the members (Acts 6:3; I Tim. 3:8-13) and ordained by the Elders (Acts 6:6; I Tim. 3:10). They shall appoint a Treasurer and Clerk and meet at least monthly, to conduct business according to their own scriptural guidelines. Article XI. Term of Office -- The Term of Service for any Officer shall be unlimited except by voluntary retirement or the agreement of the majority of interested Members as to the requirements of Biblical discipline. (I Tim 5:19-21)
Article XII. Position Papers -- Special statements, position papers or bylaws may be issued by the Elders, as wisdom dictates, for the guidance of Members; and the elders shall appoint any committees that are appropriate for the work of the ministry. Article XIII. Amendments -- These articles may henceforth be amended by consensus of the Elders and Deacons and only after thorough and unhurried discussion with, and input from, the members of the church.
