Who We Are

The Charlestown Bible Church is an independent, Bible preaching church ministering to the Connecticut river vally of New Hampshire and Vermont. We are fundamental in doctrine and conservative in practice. Our central focus is on the thorough exposition, proclamation, and application of the Scriptures of truth. Please scroll down to read through our Statement of Faith or use the quick links to read about specific distinctives.

Scriptures | God the Father | Jesus Christ | Holy Spirit | Satan | Man | Salvation | Assurance | The Church | Spiritual Gifts

The Future | Dispensationalism | Separation | New Evangelicalism | Doctrinal Error | Ordinances | Baptism | Lord's Supper

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GOD. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Eph 4:4-6; Matt 3:16,17; I Pet 1:2; II Cor 13:14.

THE FATHER. We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
We believe that:
a. The Father is the First Person of the Trinity (Matt 28:19).
b. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 20:17; II Cor 11:31).
c. He is the Father of all who believe (Jn 1:12,13).

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JESUS CHRIST. We believe:
a. Christ’s pre-incarnate glory with the father (Jn 8:58; 17:5; 1:1; Phil 2:6,7).
b. His equality with the father and the Holy Spirit (Phil 2:6; Jn 10:3; I Jn 5:7).
c. He is the Second Person of the Trinity (Mt 28:19).
d. His Creatorhood (Col 1:16-19; Jn 1:3; Heb 1:2).
e. That Christ was made flesh (Jn 1:14).
f. His conception by the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:18-23).
g. His virgin birth (Matt 1:18-23; Lu 1:27,35).
h. His sinless life (I Jn 3:5; II Cor 5:21).
i. His True humanity (Phil 2:3:5; Heb 2:14).
j. His miracles (Jn 2:23; 4:54).
k. His substitutionary death on the cross (I Jn 2:2; Mk 10:45; Heb 9:28).
l. His bodily resurrection (I Cor 15:20; Matt 28:6).
m. His ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9-11; Heb 4:4).
n. His present intercession (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25).
o. His Headship over the Church, the spiritual body of believers (Col 1:18; Eph 5:23).
p. His coming to remove the Church in what is commonly called the rapture (I Thes 4:13-18).
q. His sole mediatorship (I Tim 2:5; I Jn 2:1).
r. His personal and visible return in power and glory (Matt 24:30; Rev 1:7).
s. His millennial reign (Rev 20:4).
t. His Great White Throne judgment of all that have opposed Him (Rev 20).

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THE HOLY SPIRIT. We believe:
a. That he is a Person, and not an influence (I Cor 2:10-13; Rom 8:26-27; Jn 16:7-15).
b. That He is the Third Person of the Trinity (Matt 28:19).
c. That He convicts of sin (Jn 16:7,8).
d. That He regenerates unbelievers (Tit 3:5; Jn 3:5).
e. That He baptizes us into Christ (I Cor 12:13).
f. That He indwells the believer from the moment of salvation (I Cor 3:16; 6:19; Rom 8:9).
g. That He sanctifies (II Thes 2:13; I Pet 1:2).
h. That He teaches believers (Jn 14:26; I Jn 2:27).
i. That He witnesses the reality of salvation (Rom 8:16; Eph 1:13-14).
j. That He seals (puts Christ’s identification upon believers) (Eph 1:13).
k. That He is our comforter (Strengthener)(Jn 16:7).
l. That He delivers from the power of sin (Rom 8:2).
m. That He leads believers (Rom 8:14).
n. That He infills the believer for service (Eph 5:18; Acts 2:4).
o. That He empowers for service (Acts 1:8; I Cor 12:7-11).
p. That He bears fruit through the believer (Gal 5:22,23).
q. That He should not be resisted (Acts 7:51); done despite to (Heb 10:29); grieved (Eph 4:30); lied to (Acts 5:3,4); quenched (I Thes 5:19).
r. That He intercedes for the believer (Rom 8:26,27).

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SATAN. We believe:
a. Satan is a person (Isa 14:12-14); Ezek 28:15-18).
b. Before his fall, he was called Lucifer (Isa 14:12-15).
c. He is the first to sin (Ezek 28:14-16).
d. He induced the fall of man (Gen 3:1-13).
e. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man (Matt 4:2-11; Isa 14:13; II Cor 4:4; 11:13-15).
f. He shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10).
g. He is the deceiver (Rev 12:9-10).

MAN. We believe:
a. That man was created in the image of God. (Gen 1:16,27).
b. That man is constituted of body, soul, and spirit (I Thes 5:23; Heb 4:12).
c. That being deceived by Satan, he willfully disobeyed God and became a sinner (Gen 2:17; 3:1-6).
d. That as a representative of all humanity he has thus incurred on himself and all posterity, both physical and spiritual death (I Cor 15:21,22; Rom 3:23; 5:12; 16-21; 6:23).
e. That he is in a state of total depravity whereby he can produce no righteousness by which he can be self-redeemed before God (Isa 64:6; I Cor 2:14; Acts 26:18).
f. He thus stands in need of supernatural redemption through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ thus bringing new life through a second birth (Rom 3:23-28; II Cor 5:17; Jn 3:3-5) else he cannot go to heaven.

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SALVATION. We believe that:
a. The Lord Jesus Christ died for all our sins and the sins of the whole world (I Cor 15:3; I Jn 2:2).
b. Salvation from sin is received as a free gift from God (Eph 2:8,9; Rom 3:24; 6:23).
c. The mode of receiving thus gift is through personal faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This will include repentance (a turning to God from sin and self)(Rom 3:24,25; 5:9; Acts 26:20).
d. Through Christ’s blood we are cleansed from all sin (I Jn 1:7,9; Rom 8:1; 5:9; 3:25; Heb 9:22; I Pet 1:18,19).
e. Thus we have acceptance and right standing with God (Rom 5:1,2; Eph 1:3-14).f. All who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior are born again by the Spirit of God (Jn 1:12,13; 3:3-7).
g. They become children of God through the new birth (Gal 3:26; Rom 8:14-17; Jn 2:12).
h. All such believers are sanctified (set apart unto God) both instantaneously by virtue of their being in Christ (I Cor 1:2,30; 6:11; Heb 10:10,14) and progressively in spiritual growth (Jn 17:17; Eph 5:25,26; I Thes 4:3,4; 5:23; II Pet 3:18).

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ASSURANCE AND SECURITY. We believe that the assurance and security of the believer is clearly affirmed in the following verses:*

THE CHURCH. We believe that the church, which is the body of the espoused bride of Christ (Eph 1:22,23; 5:22-33; II Cor 11:2)is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age.
We believe that the church began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2; compare I Cor 12:13 with Matt 3:11, 16:18; Acts 1:5; 11:15-17) and will be concluded at the rapture of the church (I Thes 4:13-18) at which time the spiritual building will be complete (Matt 16:18; Eph 2:20-22; I Pet 2:4-7; Rom 22:25).We believe that Spirit-baptism is that work of the Holy Spirit whereby a person is immersed and placed into the body Christ the moment he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor 12:13).
We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament scriptures (Acts 14:21-23; 20:17-32; I Tim 3:1-16; Tit 1:5-11).
We believe that the church is a congregation of believers (Acts 2:41), the house of God (Eph 2:20-22); I Cor 3:16), the assembly of the living God and the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim 3:15). Its purpose is to glorify God in the edification of Christians through the teaching of God’s Word (Eph 4:11-16; Acts 20:26-32) in the promotion of Godly worship (Col 3:5-17) in the defense of the faith once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3) and in the worldwide proclamation of God’s saving grace through the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
The officers of the local church are elders and deacons (Phil 1:1) whose qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures (I Tim 3:1-16; Tit 1:5-11; Acts 6:1-7).
We believe that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only Head is the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:22,23; Col 1:18).
We believe that the local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation with other local churches; and on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will and decision of the local church is final (Matt 18:15-18).
The purpose of the local church is to glorify God and to manifest and display His greatness before men and angels. As the local body of Christ is healthy and it functions according to the Biblical pattern (Eph 4:11-16; I Tim 3:14-16), the living God will manifest His life (Col 1:27), His wisdom (Eph 3:10), His power (Eph 3:20), His grace (Eph 2:7), His love (Jn 17:22-26), His truth (I Tim 3:15), and His glory (Eph 3:21) in and through and by means of the church.
We believe that every believer should identify with and consider himself as unto the Lord to be responsible to a local assembly that is faithful to the ministry of the Word of God.
Every believer is responsible to the leadership of the local assembly with which they identify, whether or not they are corporate members (Heb 13:17).
It shall also be accepted as the inherent right of this church to ordain to the gospel ministry any man whom it esteems as qualified.

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THE MINISTRY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts (I Cor 12:4-11; I Pet 4:10: Heb 2:4; Rom 12:3-8) and that the gifts of evangelist, pastor, and teachers are sufficient today for the equipping of the saints (Eph 2:20; 4:7-16); and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament scriptures were completed and their authority became established (Heb 2:3,4; I Cor 13:8-10; II Cor 12:12).
We believe that God is not giving new and added revelation (through prophecy, dreams or visions) during this latter phase of the church age because of the all-sufficiency of the written Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, thus providing the believer with all that he needs to glorify Christ in this life and to walk in a way that is pleasing to Him (Jn 16:13; Rev 22:18,19; II Pet 1:15-21; II Tim 3:16,17; II Cor 5:7; Jn 20:29).
We believe that the scriptures place the greatest emphasis and importance upon the gift of God’s life (I Jn 5:11,12; Rom 6:23) which is the present possession of every believer and therefore it is our responsibility first and foremost to manifest and exhibit the resurrected life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 2:20; 4:19; 5:22,23; Phil 1:21,??) by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Jn 16:14).
Although the gift of healing is not operative in our day, we believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (Jn 15:7, I Jn 3:22; 5:14,15; Jas 5:14-16).

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THE FUTURE
We believe in the pretribulational and pre-millenial return of Christ for His Bride, the Church (I Thes 4:14-17; I Cor 15:52; Rev 3:10; I Thess 5:2-9).
That following this, Christ will return in glory to set up His Millenial Kingdom on earth (Matt 24:27-30; Zech 14:4; Lk 1:33; Rev 19:11-16).
In the resurrection of the saved to everlasting conscious blessedness with Christ (Jn 5:28,29; Jn 11:25; I Cor 15:22,23; Jn 14:3; I Cor 15:51-54; Rev 21:4-8).
That the souls of the redeemed are at death absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Rev 20:4-6; II Cor 5:1-8; Phil 1:23; 3:21; Rom 8:22,23).
That the redeemed will be judged immediately after the Rapture, at the Bema (Christ’s judgment seat) and given rewards which will adorn them for heaven.
That the souls of unbelievers remain after death is conscious misery until the second resurrection when with soul and body reunited, they shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment (Lk 16:23-25; Matt 25:41-46; II Thes 1:7-9; Mk 9:43-48; Rev 20:11-15).
The absolute victory of the Lord Jesus Christ over all forces of evil, and over every enemy, so that His name will be acknowledged by all as the Christ (anointed one)(Phil 2:9-11; Rev 19:11-16; Rev 5:12,13).
That this present earth shall be destroyed, and Christ shall make a new heaven and a new earth which He shall rule with glory (II Pet 3:10-13).

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DISPENSATIONALISM
We believe that God’s plan and purpose for the ages is only understood properly when dispensational distinctions are recognized. Clear distinctions must be made between Israel and the Church (I Cor 10:32).
We reject the extreme teaching know as “hyperdispensationalism” which opposes either the Lord’s Supper or water baptism as a Scriptual means of testimony for the church in this age (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; I Cor 11:23-26).
We recognize fully the distinctives and parenthetical and mysterious character of the present church age from the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the Rapture of the Church (I Thes 4:13-18)in which God is visiting the nations to call out a people for His name (Acts 15:14-16; I Cor 10:32; Eph 3:1-11; Col 1:24-27; Rom 16:25-27). We also believe God will fulfill His covenant and kingdom promises to the nation Israel (Gen 12:2,3; 15:18-21; Deut 30:3-10; II Sam 7:4-17; Jer 31:31-37; 33:15-26).
We furthermore believe that in every age, regardless of God’s distinctive dispensastional programs, men have always been saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8; Gen 15:6; Heb 11:4-7). We believe that the glory of God is the governing principle and overall purpose for God’s dealing with men in every age and that in every dispensation God is manifesting Himself to men and to angels so that all might redound to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:6, 12, 14; 3:21; Rom 11:33-36; 16:27; Isa 43:4; I Tim 1:17).

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SEPARATION
We believe that the doctrine of separation is a major doctrine of the Scripture, and that it is to be found in every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
We believe that the important aspect of separation is what you are separated to rather than what you are separated from, but that a right concept of separation will obviously include separation from worldly things, habits, and doctrinal error (II Thes 3:14,15; Rom 16:17).
We believe that practically, separation will include the following:
1. That the believer will not offend the holy nature of God.
2. A believer is at liberty to practice whatever the absolutes of God do not forbid.
3. Do not offend your own conscience.
4. Do not offend the conscience of another.
A right concept of separation should apply to such things as marriage, business, affiliation in God’s work, and personal habits (II Cor 6:14-18; Rom 16:17; Jude 3,4; II Jn 9-11; Col 3:1,2; I Cor 6:11; Jn 17:14; I Jn 2:15,16; I Tim 6:10,11; Matt 6:33).

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NEW EVANGELICALISM
The term refers to that movement within evangelicalism characterized by a toleration of and a dialogue with theological liberalism. Its essence is seen in an emphasis upon the social application of the gospel and weak or unclear doctrines of: the inspiration of Scripture, Biblical creationism, eschatology, dispensationalism and separation. It is further characterized by an attempt to accommodate Biblical Christianity and make it acceptable to the modern mind in the guise of love.

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DOCTRINAL ERROR
We do not fellowship with groups involved in ecumenism, new evangelicalism, ecumenical evangelism, neo-orthodoxy, dialogue, nor charaismatic movements. We believe that these movements are out of harmony with the Word of God, and the official doctrine and position of this church, and are harmful to the work of God.

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ORDINANCES
We believe that Christian ordinances are outward rites appointed by Christ, not as a means of salvation, but as visible signs and seals of the facts and realities of salvation.

BAPTISM
We believe that baptism with water is the public confession of Christ as Savior and Lord, and that immersion is the Scriptural mode. This mode is evidenced both in the word “bapto”, which means to whelm, to dip as a garment in dye, or to immerse. It is further evidenced in the sense of the Scripture which teaches that we are buried with Him in baptism (Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12; I Cor 12:13).
We believe that baptism is a symbol of one’s union by faith with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection, and therefore is to be administered to those who have given evidence of faith in Christ, as their personal Savior.
We believe that baptism has no saving power, but is an outward sign of an accomplished inward work. We require baptism by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, prior to membership (Matt 26:19).

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THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that the Lord’s Supper should be observed by all believers in obedience to the command “this do in remembrance of Me”. It consists of partaking of he consecrated emblems of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (unfermented), and symbolizes the death of Christ for the remission of our sins and our continual dependence upon Him for our sustenance. It witnesses that mystical union of the believer with Christ (Jn 15).
We believe that the union of believers around the Lord’s table should be open to all who are in right relationship with the Lord and with one another (Matt 26:26-31; Lk 22:19,20); I Cor 10:16,17; I Cor 11:23-29).

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