The Difference Between Baptists, Protestants and Catholics

Independence Baptist Church holds to the historic Baptist distinctive doctrines (sole authority of the scriptures, separation of church & state, autonomy of the local church, priesthood of the believer, 2 offices and 2 ordinances only (elder & deacon, baptism & the Lord’s supper), and a regenerated church membership. We believe true salvation results in transformation; when we receive Christ as Savior and are truly “born-again” (John 3:3-8), we become the immediate recipients of eternal life; we are immediately justified (Rom. 3:24-25), adopted (Rom 8:15-17), sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13, 4:30), and regenerated (given new life and empowered with a new nature); we are forever “kept by the power of God” to an eternal inheritance that cannot be “lost,” as it is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” 1 Pet. 1:3-5, 2 Cor. 5:17; Heb. 9:12 & 10:9-14, etc.

​​We believe in the literal, bodily, premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth in power and glory, to commence His personal reign and rule as King over all the earth for one thousand years. We further believe as taught in Matthew 24:29-31, 2 Thes. 2:1-8 etc. that the saints will be gathered together to Christ at His glorious return “immediately after the tribulation of those days,” and not before.