Morning Star Baptist Church adopts the Holy Bible as our rule in our faith, practice and methods of operation. No bylaws or procedures shall outweigh the Scriptures. 

I.    The Scriptures

We Believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21: II Tim. 3:15; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 2:12)

II.     The True God

We Believe that there is one, and only one living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH, 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 Ghost: equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (John 5:7; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14)

III.      The Fall of Man

We Believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from the holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.  (Gen. 1:27-31; Eccl. 7:29; Acts 15:26; Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:19; John 3:6; Eph. 2:1-3; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:20; Gal. 3:22)

IV.     The Way of Salvation

We Believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the Mediatory offices of the Son of God; who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by his personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in His wonderful person that tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He in every way qualifies to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.  (Eph. 2:5; Matt 18:11; John 3:16; Heb. 4:14; Phil. 2:6-7; Heb. 2:9,14; Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 4:25; 3:21-26; I John 4:10; 2:

V.     Justification 

We Believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification, that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal principles of righteousness; that is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood; by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.  (John 1:16; Eph. 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isa 3:11-12; Rom. 5:9; Matt 9:6; Rom. 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; I John 2:25; Rom. 5:21; 6:23; Phil. 3:7-9; Rom 5:19; Rom 5:1; Matt 6:33)

VI.    The Freeness of Salvation

We Believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all accept them by a cordial penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him is an aggravated condemnation. (Isa.55:1; Luke 14:17; Rom. 16:26; Mark 1:15; Rom. 1:15-17; John 5:40; Matt. 23:37; John 3:19; Luke 19:27; II Thess. 1:8)

VII.     Grace in Regeneration

We Believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel, and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruit of repentance, and faith, and newness of life.  (John 3:3, 6-7; II Cor. I:14; II Cor. 5:17; Ezek. 36; 26; John 3:8; I Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13; I Peter 1:22-25; Col. 3:9-11; Eph. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Matt 3:8-10; 7:20; I John 5:4,18)

VIII.     Repentance and Faith

We Believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.  (Mark 1:15; 1 John 5:1; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; John 16:8; Acts 16:30-31; Like 18:13; James 4:7-10; II Cor. 7: 11; Rom 10:12-13; Acts 3:22-23; Heb 5:14; Ps. 2:6; Heb. 1:8; II Tim. 1:12; Heb. 5:14)

• God’s Purpose of Grace 

We Believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, holy and unchanged. (Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-8; 1 Sam 8:4-7. 19-22; Isa. 5:1-7 Jer. 31.31; Matt. 16:18-19; 21:28-45; John 1:12-14; Acts 20:32; Rom 5: 9-10; Eph. 1:4-23; Col 1: 12-14)

• Last Things

We Believe that God will bring the world to its appropriate end in His own time and in his own way.  According to his word, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness.  The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment.  The righteous in their resurrection and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. (Isa. 2: 4; Matt. 16: 27; Mark 8:38; Luke 12:40, 48; John 14: 1-3; Acts 1:11; Rom. 14:10; 1Cor. 4:5; II Cor. 5: 10; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1: 5; I Thess. 4:14-18) 

• Evangelism and Missions

We Believe that it is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations.  The birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others.  Missionary effort on the part of all rest thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teaching of Christ; to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ. (Gen. 12: 1-3, Ex. 19: 5-6; Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 9: 37-38; John 14:11-12, 15; Acts 1:8; 2; Rom. 10. 13-15; Eph. 3: 1-11; I Thess. 1:8; 2 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2: 1-3; 1Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17)

• Education

We Believe an adequate system of Christian schools is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people; there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and responsibility.  Freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, colleges or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures and by the distinct purpose by which the school exists. (Deu. 4:1, 5, 9; Neh. 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:7; Prov. 3:13; Eccl. 7:19; Matt. 5:2; Luke 2:40; 1Cor. 1:18-31; Eph. 4:11-16; Phil. 4:8; Col. 2:3)

XIII. Stewardship

We Believe that God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him; Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel and a bind stewardship in their possessions; therefore obligated to serve him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others.  According to the scriptures Christians should contribute to their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth. (Gen 14:20; Lev. 27: 30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4; 19-21; Luke 12:20-35; Rom. 6:6-22; 1 Cor. 4: 1-2; 2Cor. 8-9; Phil. 4:10-19 1 Peter 1:18-19

XIV.   Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We Believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son and Holy Ghost, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation; and to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying lobe of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.  (Acts 10:47-48; Col. 2:12; I Peter 3:20-21; I Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26: 26-29; I Cor. 11:28; I Cor. 5:1,8; 10:3-32; 11:17-32: John 6:26-71)

• The Lord’s Day

We Believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, or Christian Sabbath; and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations, by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private, and public; and by preparation for that rest that remained for the people of God.  (Acts 20:7; 13:44; 17:2-3; Gen. 2:3; John 20:19; Exod. 20:8; Ps. 118:24; Isa. 58:13-14; 56:2-8; Heb. 10:24-25; Luke 4:16; Heb. 4:3-11)

XVI.      Civil Government

We Believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.  (Rom. 13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; II Sam. 23:3: Jer. 30:21; Matt. 22:21; 23:20; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:23; Acts 5:29; Dan. 3:15-18; Rom. 14:4; Rev. 19:16; Ps. 72:11; Rom. 14:9-13)

• The Righteous and the Wicked

We Believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as though faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem; whole 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.  (Mal. 3:18; Prov. 12:26; Isa. 5:20; Rom. 1:17; 7:6; I John 2:29; 3:7; I Cor. 11:32; I Peter 4:17-18; I John 12:25-26; Eccl. 3:17; Matt. 13:14)

• The World to Come

We Believe that the end of this word is approaching; that at the Last Day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudges to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness. (I Peter 4:7; I Cor. 7:29-31; 15:12-59; Heb. 1:10-12; 9:28; Matt. 13:37-43; 24:30-31: 25:31-33; 28:20; Acts 3:21; I Thess. 4:13-18; John 5:28-29; Matt. 13:49; Rom. 3:5-6; Heb 6:11; Rev. 20:11-12; I John 2:28; 4:17)