CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE CHISAGO LAKES BAPTIST CHURCH
CHISAGO COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PREAMBLE
Reposing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation; believing in the New Testament teachings as practiced by the historic Baptist church; and outlined in the doctrinal statement appended to this document: We, therefore band ourselves together as a body of immersed believers in Jesus Christ and adopt for our government and plan of worship and service the following constitution and by-laws.
CHURCH COVENANT
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into this covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to study the Bible; to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry and expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger, to abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks as beverages; and to be zealous in our effort to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further maintain to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feelings and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay. We will not bring forward to the church a complaint against any member for any personal trespass against us until we have taken the first and second steps pointed out by Christ in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew; and that all private offenses which can be privately settled, we will never make public.
We, moreover, engage that when we remove from this community, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.
CHISAGO LAKES BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHISAGO COUNTY
CHURCH BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section I Name
This organization was incorporated August 17, 1962, as the Bible Baptist Church of Lindstrom, Minnesota, (Recording No. 109386, Book D of Corp., P 324 of Chisago County.) The congregation moved to a new location in Chisago City on or about July 14, 1968. The name was changed in 1972 to the Bible Baptist Church of Chisago County. The congregation moved to their new location at Highways 8 and 98 on July 8, 1973. The name was further changed to Chisago Lakes Baptist Church of Chisago County on March 14, 1979.
Section II Purpose
To minister to the spiritual welfare of its members, to the public generally, and to any individual, whether member or not, who may attend any of the general or special public meetings or functions sponsored and conducted by this corporation, or any person who at any time desires or requests the help, advice, or assistance of this church or any of its members in spiritual matters. It shall also have the purpose of seeking out those who need spiritual help.
Section III Declaration of Faith
The Articles of Faith, (Doctrinal Statement), of this church will be those adopted by this church and may only be changed by an 80% majority of all members voting on a written ballot specifying the change/s to be made.
Section IV Regular Meetings
Public services shall be held at stated times every Sunday for public worship, and each mid-week for prayer, praise and conference. The Lord's Supper shall be observed every second month, unless arrangements are made for its postponement by the Board of Deacons.
Section V Practice and Policy
No person and no organization of the church shall engage in any practice contrary to the general provisions of the church itself.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Section I
Membership in this church shall be limited and restricted to regenerated (born again) individuals who have been baptized by immersion as a public testimony of personal saving faith in Christ, and who give public assent to New Testament faith and practice.
Section II Receiving of Members
All persons presenting themselves in this organization and meeting the above conditions may be recommended by the pastor and deacons. Persons desiring membership in this organization, or desiring to be baptized and to become members of this church, shall meet with the pastor and deacons. At this meeting, the pastor and deacons will present our Doctrinal Statement of faith and practice to the candidates. The candidates will give their testimony of Christian experience. Then, the pastor and deacons will make their recommendation to the church body. Following the recommendation of the pastor and deacons, the candidates shall give a testimony of the salvation experience to the congregation.
Candidates for church membership may be received into the church at any stated, called or regular meeting of the church by a two-thirds majority of members voting.
All candidates for membership in this church, on having Doctrinal Statement and By-Laws presented to them, shall indicate that they are in full accord with the doctrinal stand and teaching of the church without mental reservation. No person shall be permitted to teach in the church any doctrine contrary to the New Testament and outlined in the doctrinal statement appended to this document.
Section III Dismissal of Members
A church letter of dismissal may be granted to any member in good standing who wishes to unite with any church of like faith and practice, at any stated, called or annual meeting of the church by a majority vote.
A certificate of Christian character will be granted to any member in good standing who wishes to unite with any other Gospel church. A member may be dismissed at his or her request.
Section IV Suspension of Members
Any member of this church who has not attended the regular church services and supported the work of the church with some degree of regularity for a six month period, provided they are not hindered by sickness or disability from doing so, following contact by the pastor or deacons, on recommendation of the Board of Deacons and by a vote of the church, shall be dismissed from the membership.
Non-resident members shall be expected to correspond with this church at least twice annually.
Section V Discipline of Members
The pastor and Board of Deacons shall constitute a Committee of Discipline. In the discharge of its duties, this committee shall always use kindness, consideration and Christian love throughout the proceedings in such cases.
Any member of the church guilty of immoral conduct or doctrinal error contrary to the Scriptures or the doctrinal statement of this church may be brought before the committee by any member of the church in good standing.
In the case of personal differences between members of the church, the Committee of
Discipline shall recommend that the parties endeavor to be reconciled on the basis of Matthew 18:15-17. If the preferred charges cannot be settled, the accused member(s) shall be visited by two deacons specifying the nature of the charges(s), and if a reconciliation still cannot be made, then said member(s) shall be summoned before the Committee of Discipline to make answer and to receive a full and fair hearing.
The Committee of Discipline shall acquit the accused if innocent, or convict the accused if the evidence warrants, and if convicted, to recommend to the church that the accused be dropped from membership or to be otherwise disciplined, as the case may warrant. The accused shall have the right to an appeal from the decision of the Committee of Discipline and to have a hearing at a stated meeting of the membership before final action is taken.
ARTICLE III: MEETINGS
Section I Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the church shall close on the last day of August of each year.
Section II Procedure for Nominating Officers
Two months previous to the annual election of officers, a Nominating Committee, composed of the pastor, those deacons whose term of office does not expire that year and two adult church members selected from a list submitted by the Deacon Board, shall meet and nominate individuals to fill the various offices of the church. No name shall be submitted until the committee has secured the consent of the nominee.
A list of the nominees shall be posted in the church one month prior to the annual election. Any active voting member may submit additional suggestions for nominees to the Nominating Committee for consideration. If the committee determines that the suggested nominees meet the qualifications for the office and the nominees are agreeable, their names shall be added to the official ballot. Nominations cannot be made from the floor at the election.
Section III Regular Annual Meetings of the Membership
The regular annual meeting of the membership shall be held during the month of September each year at Chisago Lakes Baptist Church, Chisago City, Minnesota, at which meeting all matters relating to the church may be considered and acted upon, and at which all church officers shall be elected.
Annual reports of the various departments of the church shall be presented at this meeting. The church treasurer shall present a full and complete financial statement of the affairs of the church for the preceding fiscal year.
At said annual meeting the membership shall elect men to the Board of Deacons to replace those whose terms have expired, and the following offices of Clerk and Head Usher. All officers must be elected by ballot.
Section IV Special Meetings
Special business meetings of the membership may be called at any time by the pastor, or upon request of the Board of Deacons or upon the written request of any ten voting members. Notice of each special meeting of the membership shall be announced two consecutive Sundays prior to the date on which such special meetings shall convene.
The chairman of the Deacons shall preside at all business meetings in the absence of the senior pastor.
Section V Parliamentary Rules
The manual of parliamentary law or authority in the conduct of the church business or church business meetings shall be Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition. In cases of conflict, this constitution shall take precedence.
Section VI Quorum
Twenty percent (20%) of the resident voting membership shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IV: VOTING RIGHTS
Section I
All active members in good standing, eighteen (18) years of age and over shall have the right to vote in all meetings of the membership.
ARTICLE V: PASTOR AND STAFF PERSONNEL
Section I The Pastor
A born-again, Bible believing minister shall be called at a special or regular meeting of the church, called for that purpose, a public notice having been given from the pulpit two Sundays immediately preceding the date of the meeting. A vote of three-fourths (75%) of the membership attending such meeting shall be necessary to constitute a call.
The pastor shall continue to serve until he resigns, or until his ministry is terminated by a 60% vote of the membership attending such meeting called for that purpose. In the event of the requested termination of the employment of the pastor, he shall receive two months regular salary in addition to the salary up to the time of termination.
He shall have general oversight of all ministries of the church. He shall preside as chairman of all business meetings of the church. He shall be ex-officio member of all boards and committees of the church and all departments of its work, both spiritual and temporal.
Every pastor shall be an ordained Baptist minister, or one who is willing to be ordained as a Baptist as soon as possible after accepting the call of the church.
Section II Assistant Pastors and Employed Staff Members
a. The pastor shall recommend to the Board of Deacons the names of personnel for additions to the church staff and the deacons shall confirm or deny the recommendation.
b. They shall assist the pastor in carrying out his duties and shall, therefore, seek conscientiously to achieve the objectives and purposes of this church and to defend the Statement of Faith.
c. They shall serve the church under the direct supervision of the pastor and be responsible to the deacons through the pastor.
d. They may be assigned as deemed necessary by the pastor and deacons to needed ministries of the church.
e. They may be dismissed by a majority vote of the Board of Deacons with severance pay of one month.
ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH
Section I Legal Statutory Officers
The Board of Deacons shall elect annually the President (Chairman), Vice President (Vice Chairman) and Secretary. Such officers, together with the treasurer of the church, shall be the legal officers of the corporation.
Said officers shall have the usual and customary duties pertaining to such officers. The secretary shall have custody of the seal of the corporation. All legal documents, such as contracts, deeds, mortgages and the like shall be signed in the name of the corporation by the President and Secretary.
Section II Elective Officers
The elective officers of the church shall be the deacons, clerk and head usher. Elected officers shall assume office immediately upon their election.
Section III
All elective officers shall hold office for one year, except the office of deacon, as is provided for under Article 7, Section 2.
Section IV
The pastor, all officers of the church, teachers, appointees charged with official duties, and officers of all auxiliary organizations of the church, shall be required to be members of the church who subscribe to the Articles of Faith, Covenant and the By-Laws of the church. Upon refusal of any of the above, his office shall automatically be declared vacant by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Deacons.
ARTICLE VII: BOARD OF DEACONS
Section I
Since the temporal affairs of the church are legitimately embraced in the duties of the deaconate according to the Scriptures, and since the deacons are elected in such a way as to comply with the statutes of the State of Minnesota, the Board of Deacons shall, in transactions involving the State and other temporal agencies, constitute officially and be known as the trustees of the Chisago Lakes Baptist Church, Chisago City, Minnesota. Hence the term, “Deacons” hereafter shall be understood to be “Deacon-Trustees.”
Section II
The Board of Deacons shall consist of seven men for the first 200 members and one additional deacon for each 50 members or major fraction thereof. The term of office shall not exceed three (3) years and, so far as possible, one-third of the deacons shall be elected each year. An unexpired vacancy may be filled at any duly called business meeting. If there is a reduction in membership of 50 members or majority fraction thereof, at the initial meeting of the nominating committee, a lesser number of deacons shall be elected at the annual meeting, to bring the total number into conformance with this section.
Section III
The Board of Deacons, in cooperation with the pastor, shall manage and administer all secular and temporal affairs of the church, and shall give counsel to spiritual ministries of the church.
Section IV
They shall supervise and care for all buildings and properties of every kind belonging to the church, but they shall not sell, mortgage or otherwise encumber the real estate of the church without the authorization of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the required quorum of a meeting of the church called for that purpose, notice thereof having been given from the pulpit at two consecutive Sunday morning services immediately preceding the meeting of the membership of the church.
The Board of Deacons shall determine with the pastor who shall use all church property and for what purpose it shall be used. This shall apply to all meetings, other than those specifically called for in this constitution. No use of the church property shall be permitted for purposes of raising monies, except in the case of church affairs which are conducted solely for the purpose of Christian fellowship and do not have a profit motive.
Section V
The Board of Deacons shall be the custodian of all trust funds of the church and they shall have the power to invest such funds in proper and safe security, being responsible to the church for said funds at all times. They shall have full responsibility of the accounting and banking of all church offerings, and shall endeavor to keep the church treasury supplied with funds for the payment of current bills and other indebtedness of the church.
The Board of Deacons shall select auditors to check the financial affairs of the church a sufficient time before the end of the fiscal year, so that the auditors may be able to report to the deacons prior to the annual meeting of the church membership.
Section VI
The pastor, in cooperation with the deacons, shall appoint such committees as may be necessary for the carrying out of the duties of the Board of Deacons or of the work of the church.
Section VII
The Board of Deacons shall recommend to the annual meeting of the membership a proposed expense budget for the coming year for consideration and action.
The Board of Deacons shall have power to employ all other employees of the church and shall fix the salaries thereof consistent with the current budget.
Section VIII
The Board of Deacons shall constitute the Missionary Committee of the church, and it shall be the duty of the deacons to prepare the annual missionary budget for presentation to the membership at the annual meeting. The Board of Deacons shall authorize the disbursement of all missionary funds of the church in accordance with the will of the church or individual donors.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Deacons to investigate missionary enterprises which may be seeking assistance from the church and report its findings to the church for action, at any duly called special meeting or at the annual meeting to advise the church as to the various missionary enterprises and to deal with the important work of enlightening and mobilizing the entire membership in the missionary work.
Any missionary supported by this church and the mission board under which he serves must be in agreement with the Articles of Faith, the constitution and the polity of this church and their support shall be reviewed each term, and more often if deemed necessary by the committee prior to preparation of budget recommendations and church action on the budget.
Section IX
The Board of Deacons, with the pastor, shall constitute the Relief Committee of the church, and shall be in charge of the Deacons Fund.
Section X
The pastor, in counsel with the deacons, shall have general supervision of the musical ministry of the church and shall appoint music directors, organists and pianists as deemed necessary.
Section XI
The pastor shall arrange for pulpit supply during temporary absences such as illness, vacation or emergencies. In the event the position of senior pastor is vacant or the pastor is incapacitated, the Board of Deacons shall have charge of all services.
Section XII
The Board of Deacons shall meet monthly at such time and place as it may seem advisable and for the best interests of the church. A majority of the members of the Deacon Board shall constitute a quorum. All meetings shall be presided over by the pastor, or in the absence of the senior pastor, by the chairman of the Board of Deacons. The Board of Deacons shall make a report of its work at each annual meeting of the membership when so directed by church action
Section XIII
The Board of Deacons shall constitute the Pulpit Committee. It shall be the duty of this committee to prayerfully seek God's guidance in selecting a man or men to present to the church as candidate or candidates for the pulpit.
It shall be the duty of the church clerk to keep an exact record of all meetings of the membership of the church, to keep a complete register of members, to make out all letters of dismissal and conduct such correspondence as may be necessary.
Treasurers shall be appointed by the Board of Deacons.
In addition to the usual and customary duties of such office, the treasurers shall receive regular and special offerings of the church. They shall keep all funds collected for a specific purpose separate from other funds. All disbursements of funds shall be made in accordance with the church budget and as authorized by the Board of Deacons. All disbursements shall be made by check.
The treasurers shall keep an account in the name of the church in a depository selected by the Board of Deacons, and shall keep a true and accurate set of books and shall make a full report to the church board at their regular meeting as to matters pertaining to such board and shall make a full and complete account at the annual business meeting of the church.
The church treasurers shall deposit all important church papers such as deeds, mortgages, notes, insurance policies in a safety deposit box or other receptacles so designated by the Board of Deacons.
Section II
A monthly financial report shall be distributed to the membership not later than ten days following the end of the month unless a business meeting is held, at which a report is distributed and presented during that period.
ARTICLE X: FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Board of Deacons. He shall keep a record of the offerings of the individual givers and see that each member is supplied with offering envelopes. He shall furnish an annual statement of individual giving.
ARTICLE XI: BIBLE SCHOOL
Section I
The pastor shall select the Sunday School superintendent subject to the approval of the Board of Deacons.
Section II
Under his leadership, such matters as teachers for classes, curriculum and general program shall be determined. All decisions shall be subject to review and approval of the pastor.
ARTICLE XII: HEAD USHER
A Head Usher shall be elected, who shall be responsible for the ushering of all church services and meetings of the membership.
A Head Usher shall appoint assistant ushers as required.
ARTICLE XIII: AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS
All auxiliary organizations will be under the direction of the pastor and the church.
ARTICLE XIV: ORDAINING OR LICENSING
This church shall reserve the right to ordain or license such male members whom they feel are called of God to the public ministry. A license shall cease to be in effect upon leaving the membership.
This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members voting at any regular annual meeting of the membership of the church at any special meetings called for that purpose, provided a written notice containing a copy of the proposed amendments shall be printed in the church bulletin for at least two consecutive Sundays prior to the calling of said meeting. Such amendments may be submitted to the adult voting membership by the Deacon Board or by a request of 10% of the membership.
ARTICLE XVI: DISSOLVING THE CORPORATION
This corporation may be dissolved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership and the assets must be given to non-profit organizations chosen by the membership. These organizations must be in complete agreement with the Articles of Faith, Constitution and polity of this church.
Chisago Lakes Baptist Church
Chisago City, Minnesota
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in the three persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (II Cor. 13:14; Matt. 3:16,17; Jn. 8:58, 14:9; Acts 5:3,4; Heb. 13:8; Gen. 1:2.)
God the Father rules the universe from Heaven's glory and has never been seen by mortal eye. (Dan. 4:35; Jn. 1:18)
God the Son 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 man. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and 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. (Rom. 3:24;
I Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; Jn. 1:14; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; I Peter 1:18,19; Rom. 5:6,25)
God the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts men of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment. He is the divine agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers unto the day of redemption. (Jn. 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-24; Eph. 1:13,14; Jn. 3:5; Eph. 4:30)
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin, the race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. We believe man to be totally depraved, and of himself, unable to redeem his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:10-23, 5:12, 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3)
III. The Doctrine of Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God, brought to man by grace, and received by personal faith in Jesus Christ. (Eph. 2:8)
We believe that salvation becomes a reality in the life when the individual repents of his sins, (II Cor. 7:9-11), and places his faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as his complete and only hope of salvation. (Eph. 1:7, 2:3-10) We believe the Holy Spirit is the person who enters and regenerates the believer. (Titus 3:5) We believe that the believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God who causes the believer to call upon God and know that God is the object of God's special care, that he is under the working of the Spirit of God, who is separating the believer from worldly practice and preparing him for Heaven. (Phil. 1:6; Jude 1; II Tim. 2:21;-I Thess. 5:23) We believe that the believer has immediate access to God.
We believe that all saved individuals should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Eph. 1:12) We believe that separation from all religious apostasy and all sinful practice, pleasure and association is commanded by God.
(II Tim. 3:5; Rom. 12:1-2; I Jn. 2:15-17; Ps. 1:1; II Cor. 6:14-18)
We believe that the salvation of every believer is secure for all eternity from the moment of regeneration. This security is guaranteed to each believer by the fact that the life received is eternal life, by the keeping power of God, by the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit and by the interceding ministry of Christ. (Jn. 5:24, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 29,30,36,39; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 7:25)
We believe that immediate, positional sanctification is the process by which, according to God's will, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is progressive; that it is begun in regeneration; that it progresses if the believer is yielded to the Holy Spirit's control; that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, self-examination, watchfulness and prayer. (I Thess. 4:3, 5:23; Prov. 4:18;
I Jn. 2:29; Phil. 2:12,12; Eph. 6:18; Jn. 17:17)
We believe that ultimate sanctification will be the portion of every believer when finally in the presence of the Lord, complete and entire, with soul and spirit united in the resurrected body, free from every trace or effect of sin and rebellion. (I Jn. 3:2; I Car. 15:52-54; Eph. 4:30, 5:27; Phil. 4:20-21)
IV. The Doctrine of the Church
We believe that the Church is a spiritual organism composed of all believers of this age. It is the Body of Christ, and the Bride of Christ. (I Car. 12:12-14; II Car. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27)
We believe that every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, and hence every believer is commanded to be immersed as a testimony of this experience.
( Rom. 5:3-5)
We believe that the Church ought to observe the Lord's Table periodically as a means of worship and of remembering the Lord's death till He comes. (I Cor. 11:23-26)
We believe the Church has a two-fold ministry. First, that of evangelizing the world, and, secondly, that of building up every saint in the things of the spiritual life. (Matt. 26:19-20)
We believe that the establishment of the local church is clearly taught in New Testament Scripture, and that every local church should be composed of professed believers in Christ who have followed the Lord in baptism by immersion, and who seek to live lives separated from the sinful practices of the world. (Acts 2:41-47)
V. The Doctrine of the Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally inspired Word of God and the final authority for faith and life. We believe them to be inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:20-21; Matt. 5:18)
We recommend only those versions or translations of the Bible which are true to the original languages and do not mar the teachings therein.
We believe the Bible teaches that every Christian ought to study the Word of Cod consistently in order to grow spiritually. (I Pet. 2:2-3; Heb. 4:12)
We believe in the existence of angels, which are created beings, who worship and serve God consistently. (Matt. 18:10; Mark 13:32, 8:38; Matt. 13:41) They are greater in power than men. (II Pet. 2:11)
We believe the New Testament teaches that angels are used of the Lord to help the church of this age. (Acts 8:26, 10:3; Luke 15:10; Matt. 4:11, Luke 22:43; Acts 12:8-11)
They will separate the righteous from the wicked in the last days. (Matt. 13:39-42)
We believe Satan to be one of the highest created beings that rebelled against God, and that he caused a number of the heavenly host to rebel with him. (Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:11-19)
He has thus become the leader of a host of demons who are opposed to God and all that is righteous. (Matt. 12:24) We believe he is the god of this wicked world, and the head of the kingdom of darkness. (II Cor. 4:4) He is the tempter, (Matt. 4:3) and his primary work is to hinder the program of God in this world. (I Thess. 2:18; Heb. 2:14)
We believe that he is the defeated foe, that we, as Christians, can successfully resist him in the power of God (James 4:7) and that Satan and his host will spend all eternity in conscious agony in the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Gen. 3:14; Matt. 13:19,39, 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
VIII. The Doctrine of Last Things
A. The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the blessed hope; the personal, imminent, pre-tribulational pre-millennial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones, and His subsequent return with His own to rule and reign one thousand years on the earth. (Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:9; Rev. 3:10, 19:11-16, 20:1-6)
We believe that the saints of God will be resurrected previous to the tribulation period, and that we will receive at that time immortal bodies. (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:50-54)
We believe that the unsaved dead will be resurrected at the end of the millennial reign of Christ, and will be judged before the Great White Throne, and cast into the lake of fire to eternally suffer conscious pain for their sin in rejecting God's mercy. (Rev. 20:11-15)
We believe the Bible teaches every Christian shall be judged. This judgment is for rewards and will not affect our salvation. (I Cor. 3:8-16, 4:5; II Cor. 5:10; II Tim. 4:1)
We believe the unsaved dead will be resurrected to judgment at the Great White Throne. (Rev. 20:11-15)
D. The Eternal Glory of the Saints
We believe that following the White Throne Judgment, God will bring to pass a New Heaven and a New Earth, which will be similar to Paradise past, except that it will be a place where nothing can enter and corrupt the fellowship, peace and joy of that day. (Rev. 21-22)