The following paragraphs are brief statements of the doctrinal positions of New England Shores Baptist Church. A full doctrinal statement is available upon request. We believe:

 

The Bible. We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration (1) of the Bible in the original manuscripts, composed of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. Through God’s providence, the Bible has been kept pure (2) and remains the authentic Word of God. The Bible is the inerrant, sufficient, and infallible authority in all manner of faith and practice (3). (1) 2 Tim. 3:16-17.  (2) Prov. 30:5-6.  (3) 2 Pet. 1:16-21.

 

Bible Translation: We happily teach and preach from the King James Version (KJV) or the New King James Version (NKJV) for continuity, and reject the "King James Only" movement (KJVO). We agree with the KJV translators that only the original autographs of the Bible were inspired, and that updating a translation is necessary as languages change over time. We appreciate the NKJV as the fifth major revision on the KJV. We also respect the individual soul liberty of the believer in the use of modern Bible translations.  

 

God. We believe that there is only one God (1) consisting of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (2). They are three persons in coequal and coeternal perfection (3). Each has His individual identity and is separate, (4) yet perfectly united as three Persons in One. (1) Deut. 6:4-5.  (2) Matt. 3:16; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14.  (3) John 10:30; 14:10; 17:5.  (4) John 10:30; 15:26; Eph. 1:3-4, 6-7, 13-14.

 

Creation and the Fall. We believe God created all things in a time frame of 6 literal, 24-periods (days). We believe that man was originally created as a sinless being (1). By voluntary choice Adam fell from that sinless state (2), and, as a result, all who are born after him are sinners by nature (3). Now all men are under divine judgment (4). (1) Gen. 1:27, 31; 2:16-17; Ecc. 7:29.  (2) Gen. 3:6-7; Rom. 5:12, 19. (3)  Is. 53:6; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; 5:15-19.  (4) John 3:36; Rom. 1:20.

 

Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God (1) who was incarnated into a physical body while being both truly God and truly man (2). He was conceived by the work of the Holy Spirit, and He was born of a human mother who was a virgin (3). After His birth, He lived a sinless life on earth, died on the cross as the substitutionary atonement for sin, and was raised bodily from the tomb (5). He now is in heaven as the great High Priest sitting at the right hand of the Father (6). He will return to rapture His bride (the church) prior to the tribulation period (7). Christ’s second physical return to the earth shall occur and institute the Millennium (8). (1) Heb. 1:1-2; Ps. 2. (2) Phil. 2:5-8. (3) Is. 7:14; Luke 1:26-38; Phil. 2:7-8. (5) Luke 24:1-6; 1 Pet. 2:21-24; 1 Cor. 15:1-7, 23-26. (6) Heb. 4:14. (7) 1 Thes. 4:16-17,Matt. 24:30-31; 1 Cor. 15:51-52.  (8) Rev. 20:1-7.

 

Salvation. Salvation is a free gift to all who believe in the shed blood and bodily resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by faith alone (1). It is a work that was begun by God and is not dependent upon any type of human work (2). All who accept the Gospel receive new spiritual life, are made righteous immediately in the sight of God, and are forgiven of the sin nature received from Adam (3). All believers are eternally saved and can never be lost (4). Every believer bears the responsibility of pursuing personal holiness (5). Holiness requires separation from sin personally and ecclesiastically (6).  (1) Rom. 5:1; 1 Tim. 2:4; John 3:16.  (2) Eph. 2:8-9.  (3) John 3:16; Acts 16:31; 2 Cor. 5:17.  (4) John 10:27-30; Phil. 1:6; Rom. 8:35-39.  (5) 1 Pet. 1:15-16.  (6) 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 Thes. 3:6.

 

End Times. We believe in the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His church (Rapture); and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom (pre-millennialism) (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; John 14:1-3).

 

Bible Interpretation.  We believe the Bible should be interpreted in a dispensational understanding based upon the unfolding of the divine mysteries from God with a historical-grammatical method of interpretation (Heb. 1:1-3; Eph. 1:10).

 

Fellowship. We believe that God calls all Christians to live a life of holiness (1). For this reason, we choose to limit our participation and partnership with Ecumenism, the Charismatic Movement, New Evangelicalism, Post-Modernism, the Social Gospel, or other trends contrary to the doctrines of Scripture (2). (1) 1 Pet. 1:16; 2 Cor. 6:17; Rom. 16:17. (2) 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; Titus 3:10; Amos 3:3.

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Marriage. We believe that marriage is an institution founded by God prior to the formation of human government (Gen. 2:20-25). We believe God defines marriage as a lifetime covenant between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24). We believe divorce is a sin (Mal. 2:16; Matt. 19:8) that disqualifies men from holding the office of a pastor or deacon (1 Tim. 3:1; 11), but does not limit individuals in the exercise of their spiritual gifts and talents in the local church after repentance. 

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Gender Distinction. We believe God determines every person's gender or sex (Jer. 1:5; Ps. 139:13-18), that God created two compatible sexes (male and female - Gen. 2:22-24), and that God does not make mistakes (Ps. 18:30). We believe that gender identity is determined by biological sex and not by one’s self-perception. We believe God created male and female as equals in worth, dignity, and spiritual privilege (Gen. 1:27; Gal. 3:28), but with different roles. These roles are defined by God in Scripture. God is head of the man, and man is the head of the woman (Eph. 5:22-33). We believe God prohibits women from exercising authority over the Church (1 Tim. 2:12), and from serving as pastor or deacon (1 Tim. 3:1; 11). 

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Morality. We believe the Bible clearly defines standards of morality. The Scriptures teach that the practice of sex outside of marriage (Heb, 13:4, 1 Cor. 7:2), adultery (Ex. 20:14), incest (1 Cor. 5:1; Lev. 18:6-7), homosexual and bisexual acts (Lev. 18:22-24; Ro. 1:27; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Tim. 1:8-11), pornography (1 Cor. 6:13), and all other sexual sins (1 Cor. 6:18) are hated by God, are incompatible with the Christian life. We believe all sins can be completely forgiven (1 John 1:9).

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Race. We believe racism is sin (James 2:4-9). We believe God created one race, the human race, in His image with a beautiful diversity of shapes, features, skin tones, and cultures (Gen. 1:26-28). We reject Charles Darwin's theory of Caucasians being superior, more civilized, or better evolved than non-Caucasians. We believe all people are equal before God, and that no one can rightly claim to be superior to another because of perceived racial or ethnic backgrounds. We believe it is sinful to look down upon, denigrate, or discriminate against others because of their diversity. We embrace the celebration of beauty and uniqueness in God's creation (Col. 1:16-17). We reject Critical Race Theory as it 1) seeks revenge through the redistribution of wealth targeting the perceived oppressors (Ro. 12:19-21); 2) classifies all white people as unavoidably racist, which produces its own unapologetic hyper-racism; and 3) believes that power, not the forgiveness of sin through Christ's blood (Heb. 9:22), is the solution for the sin of racism. While racism is certainly present in this fallen world, it must be eradicated through the reconciliation of sin through Christ alone provided through the Gospel rather than revenge against a fellow man for sins that man may have never committed (Ezek. 18:20).