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What West LaFollette Baptist Church Teaches:
WLBC teaches that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the only source of authority concerning God’s revelation of Himself and of His will. The revelation of the Bible is complete and sufficient in all matters related to theology (Acts 17: 2-3; Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Jude 3).
- WLBC teaches a verbal plenary inspiration of the Bible.
- Every word of the Bible is given by God.
- WLBC chooses to use the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible in its Pulpit Ministry.
We believe that Jesus suffered and died as the payment for the sins of the whole world, He was buried, and He physically arose from the dead; this is the Gospel message (1 Cor. 15: 1-4) that must be believed to be saved from sin’s penalty. Simple faith in this sacrifice is the only way for mankind to be saved from the judgment to come (Luke 24; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 1:20-23; 2:8-9; 1 Peter 3:18).
WLBC teaches Scripture by interpreting within a literal historic context (Matt. 22: 29; 2 Pet. 3:2, 16).
Unless obviously shown or stated otherwise, the words of the text mean what the words in the historic and literal context would normally mean.
- The application of Scripture is determined by the author, not the reader.
- Taking Scripture out of context and applying meanings that are not truly present is dangerous to the faith and dishonoring to God’s Word.
WLBC teaches a classical dispensational approach regarding the understanding of God’s revelation (Eph. 3:9; 2 Tim 2:15; Heb. 1:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:10-12).
- God has worked at different times in different ways throughout history to bring about His purposes.
- God’s work throughout various time periods in history is not always normative for the time period in which we live today.
WLBC teaches that there will be a pretribulational, premillennial rapture of the church (Jn. 14:1-3; Rom 5:9: 1 Cor. 15:51-52; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Thess. 5:9; Rev 3:10).
- Those who have been saved and are alive when God begins to judge the world will be raptured out of this world.
WLBC teaches that there remains a distinction between Israel and the Church (Jer. 31:27-40; Matt. 16:18; Rom. 9-11; 1 Cor. 10:32; Gal. 6:16; Eph. 3:1-9).
- The Church has not replaced Israel.
- God’s plan for Israel as a nation remains intact and will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom.
WLBC teaches that the Kingdom of God will be established physically on earth at the Second Coming of Christ (Deut. 30:1–10; Isa. 11; Ezek. 37:21–28; Amos 9:11-15; Zech. 14 Matt. 25:31-46; Acts 15:16–17; Rom. 8:19–23; 11:25–27; 1 Cor. 15:28: Rev. 20:1–6; 21:1-4).
- The Kingdom of God will physically begin when Christ sits on His physical throne on the present earth (Isa. 9: 6-7; Luke 1:32-33).
- Christ will reign supreme on the present earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 20: 1-6).
- The Kingdom of God will continue forever on the new earth with God as all in all (1 Cor. 15: 24-25).
WLBC teaches that churches should be doctrinally driven (Jer. 5:31; Matt. 7:13-14; Acts 2:42; 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:2).
- Though something may work in the church, it does not mean that it is right to have in the church.
WLBC teaches that God has structured His creation and the church in an authoritative way, impacting positions in the church and gender roles (1 Tim. 2:12; 3:1-12; Titus 1:6-7; 2:1-5).
- The role of pastor at WLBC is to be filled distinctively by a qualified man.
- The role of deacon at WLBC is to be filled distinctively by qualified men.
- Women are not to hold any position in the church where they teach adult men. This is not because women are inferior or incapable, but because God has ordained it as such.
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer of the Gospel in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to faith in the final resurrection of the dead (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His Second Coming (Matt. 26:26-30; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29).
WLBC teaches and holds strictly to the Biblical definition of marriage (Gen. 2:24; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:27; 1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:22-33; Heb. 13:4).
- Marriage exists and is possible only between one man and one woman, and God’s design is that it last for life.
- Heterosexual marriage is the only definition of marriage sanctioned by God’s Word and, as such, is the only form of marriage that will be performed or supported at WLBC.
WLBC teaches that the creation days of Genesis 1 were six literal (24-hour) days, which occurred about 6,000 years ago. We believe that about 2,300–3,300 years before Christ, the surface of the earth was radically rearranged by Noah’s Flood. All land animals and birds not in Noah’s Ark (along with many sea creatures) perished, many of which were subsequently buried in the Flood sediments (Gen. 1-2; 6-9; Ex. 20:11; Mark. 10:6; Rev. 4:11).
This statement, while not exhaustive, should give the reader a proper understanding of the doctrinal position of WLBC.
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