Statement of Faith

God is three Persons, all equal One to the Others, and existing in One Being (Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:4). The three Persons of the Godhead are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is the Creator of the universe and its inhabitants (Genesis 1:1-2:5). He created the universe and its inhabitants by direct action, the word of His mouth, not by the means espoused by the theories of theistic evolution or evolution. He is eternal, sovereign, holy, just, immutable, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, true, merciful, and loving.

The Father -- He is the Father of the nation of Israel (Isaiah 63:16), of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17), and of believers in Christ (Matthew 10:32-33). Though Creator of heaven and earth He is not the Father (as in family relationship) to all humans (John 8:42-44).

The Son -- The Son of God is the Word (Logos) which was made flesh (John 1:1-14), born of a virgin and conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-25). He is both all God and all man (God--John 1:1; Romans 9:5; Man--Romans 1:3, 4; both God and man--John 1:1-14; Romans 9:5). He is the Savior of all those who place their trust in Him to forgive their sins (John 3:16). He is the Head of the Church, which is His body (Ephesians 5:23, 30; 4:12).

The Holy Spirit -- The Holy Spirit is the Person of the Trinity Who reveals to men their need of Christ as well as reveals Christ Himself to men (John 16:7-15). He is the One Who moved holy men of old to speak the Word of God (II Peter 1:20, 21). He baptizes believers into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:11). He fills (Ephesians 5:18), indwells (I Corinthians 6:19), guides (Romans 8:14), assures (Romans 8:16), and intercedes for believers (Romans 8:26).

Man

In His original state in the garden of Eden, man was sinless (Romans 5:12). Through the sin of Adam, man fell from that original state, thus becoming sinful by nature and choice. Man continues today as totally depraved, without any inherent righteousness or the ability to produce such righteousness of himself which could merit God's favor. Man became subject to the curse of sin and its consequences which include spiritual death immediately (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1), suffering (Romans 8:22, 23), physical death (Hebrews 9:27), and eventually the second death (Revelation 20:11-15). By faith in Christ alone man is able to be restored to the original creation of man in part now (II Corinthians 15:51-54; Philippians 3:21).

Salvation

Salvation is granted to people by God apart from works and upon the basis of faith alone (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Biblical faith involves repentance, having a change of mind toward sin (particularly the sin of rejecting Christ) and the Savior (Luke 24:47; 13:3; Acts 26:20). The natural response of the person who has been truly saved is public confession of Christ (John 4:29; cf. Matthew 10:32, 33). Christ is recognized as Lord at the point of salvation (Romans 10:9), but with the allowance of gradual growth in Christ (not to the extreme of "Lordship salvation"). Salvation is by faith alone. Salvation results in a life of good works (Ephesians (2:10; I John 3:24). God gives assurance of salvation to the believer (John 10:28, 29; II Timothy 2:13; I John 5:12, 13). There is no reason for the believing person to fear the loss of his salvation, for he is secure in Christ. To reject Christ's salvation is to, upon physical death, embrace a literal hell and eventually the lake of fire (Luke 16:1931; Revelation 20:11-15). Salvation is both initiated by God's calling and received by man's choice.

The Church

The Bible speaks of both the universal (Ephesians 3:19-22; 4:12, 15, 16; Colossians 1:18) and local church (I Corinthians 1:2 with many others). The universal church is the body of believers saved during New Testament times and is distinct from the nation of Israel. The local church is a group of believers organized for the purpose of edification )through preaching, teaching, and fellowship) (Ephesians 4:11-13) and evangelism (II Corinthians 5:18-21). The primary leader of the church (local) is the pastor whose duties are to feed the "sheep of his flock" (people) from false teachers and sinning brethren (Acts 20:28-32); I Timothy 4:16; also see next paragraph). The elders are to serve with the pastor in leading the church. The ordinances of the church are baptism (performed by the pastor with the new believer by immersion in water for the purpose of obeying the Lord's command--Matthew 28:19--and identifying him with Christ--Romans 6:3-5) and the Lord's Supper (in which the cup and bread are distributed and consumed by obedient believers for the purpose of symbolically commemorating the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross and looking forward to the Lord's return--I Corinthians 11:17-24). Neither of the ordinances is a means of saving grace.

The church aces the particular problems of growing apostasy and compromise due to the toleration of and cooperation with false teachers by some true Christians. Liberal and Neo-Orthodox leaders are false teachers and are to be withdrawn from by believers (I Timothy 6:3-5; II John 9-10). New Evangelicalism is the system of working with apostasy, those who do not stand upon the Bible alone, trust in Christ alone and His grace alone. Their method is to work from the inside instead of coming out from among them. We have a responsibility to teach those who oppose themselves in unrighteousness with patience and meekness.

So there needs to be contact for that teaching. There is also a point at which God's word is ignored that makes fellowship a matter of disobedience. Carriage Town is accountable to God to access the posture, and direction of those with whom we fellowship. We purpose to prayerfully consider by teaching, practice and association all churches. We desire to fellowship with all that are faithful.

The Bible speaks of both the universal (Ephesians 3:19-22; 4:12, 15, 16; Colossians 1:18) and local church (I Corinthians 1:2 with many others). The universal church is the body of believers saved during New Testament times and is distinct from the nation of Israel. The local church is a group of believers organized for the purpose of edification )through preaching, teaching, and fellowship) (Ephesians 4:11-13) and evangelism (II Corinthians 5:18-21). The primary leader of the church (local) is the pastor whose duties are to feed the "sheep of his flock" (people) from false teachers and sinning brethren (Acts 20:28-32); I Timothy 4:16; also see next paragraph). The elders are to serve with the pastor in leading the church. The ordinances of the church are baptism (performed by the pastor with the new believer by immersion in water for the purpose of obeying the Lord's command--Matthew 28:19--and identifying him with Christ--Romans 6:3-5) and the Lord's Supper (in which the cup and bread are distributed and consumed by obedient believers for the purpose of symbolically commemorating the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross and looking forward to the Lord's return--I Corinthians 11:17-24). Neither of the ordinances is a means of saving grace.

The church aces the particular problems of growing apostasy and compromise due to the toleration of and cooperation with false teachers by some true Christians. Liberal and Neo-Orthodox leaders are false teachers and are to be withdrawn from by believers (I Timothy 6:3-5; II John 9-10). New Evangelicalism is the system of working with apostasy, those who do not stand upon the Bible alone, trust in Christ alone and His grace alone. Their method is to work from the inside instead of coming out from among them. We have a responsibility to teach those who oppose themselves in unrighteousness with patience and meekness.

So there needs to be contact for that teaching. There is also a point at which God's word is ignored that makes fellowship a matter of disobedience. Carriage Town is accountable to God to access the posture, and direction of those with whom we fellowship. We purpose to prayerfully consider by teaching, practice and association all churches. We desire to fellowship with all that are faithful.

Marriage

God’s Plan: Marriage is a covenant union of one man and one woman in a commitment for life (“til death do us part”).

This union is limited to those two people.
It is pure in its intimacy and unique in its status.
It is the only such union “put together” by God.
It is the irreplaceable core of the family.
It is the most basic building block of society.

Biblical Standard: Although the Bible is clear regarding this teaching, in our day this teaching needs clarification. As believers we are a people who endeavor to walk with God. This includes a life separated from fornication, adultery and homosexuality. CTBC accepts this standard as God’s biblical standard. This principle is marked out clearly in the teaching of Genesis 10, Romans 1 and I Corinthians 16.

Not God’s Plan: The union of a same sex relationship cannot replace God’s plan. The Bible teaches marriage is one man one woman. Any change to this union is not natural. So clear is God’s mandate that nature takes no such venture. A man with man or woman with woman union is expressly forbidden in scripture and associated with God’s displeasure and judgment.

All Have Sinned, All are Welcome: Carriage Town Bible Church does not disproportionately discriminate against such activity. Sodomy is listed with the other sins of Corinth. God forgives sin. Regardless of national heritage, sexual orientation or creed, people seeking God are welcome. We all sin. We all need the forgiveness found in Jesus’ Life, Death and Resurrection.

Sanctity of the Body

We believe that every Christian’s body is a member of the Lord Jesus Christ, that God’s Holy Spirit has taken up residence inside it, and therefore our bodies are sacred and should be used and treated with the utmost care. We believe this means that Christians should not use their bodies for sinful practices such as sexual immorality. We believe this also means that for a Christian to knowingly and willfully ingest, inhale, or inject substances into their body which, it is reasonably believed, may result in serious physical or mental damage, impairment, or other bodily harm, is contrary to the teaching of Scripture and must be avoided (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; Romans 12:1).

Last Things

Not all issues concerning the doctrine of future happenings are crystal clear. What we do know beyond question is that both dead and living believers will be changed into glorified bodies to live in a state of eternal bliss in the presence of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:51-57; I Thessalonians 4:13-18), and that after the world has been thoroughly scourged by a just God (Revelation 4-19), the unbelievers and Satan will be cast into a place called the "lake of fire" to remain eternally (Revelation 20:11-15). The sequence of these events is a matter of debate. Scripture teaches the order of events would be as follows:

1). The rapture of the Church up to heaven to the judgement seat of christ for the judging of lives for rewards, not retribution, and the subsequent "marriage supper of the Lamb" (I Corinthians 3:13-15; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:1-10),

2). The seven-year tribulation period upon the earth in which the Gentiles and Jews are punished for their rejection of Christ and during which the Jews through suffering are prepared for the second advent of their Messiah, Jesus Christ (Revelation 4-19),

3). The ending of this seven-year period in the battle of Armageddon, in which God conquers the nations of the earth and forces of darkness (Revelation 20:1-6),

4). A final rebellion of Satan and men against God which is put down and ends in Satan being cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10),

5). The Great White Throne Judgment in which God judges sinners and turns them into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15),

6). The appearance of a new heaven and new earth and the heavenly city of Jerusalem for the abode of the saved (Revelation 21:1-22:5).

CARRIAGE TOWN

Bible Church

The Word of God

God

Man

Salvation

Salvation

The Church

The Church

Marriage

Sanctity of the Body

Last Things