NTAIBC: Requirements and Practices

New Testament
Association
of Independent
Baptist Churches

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NTAIBC Requirements and Practices

(Excerpts from the Statement of Faith)

We believe the Bible is without error; being verbally and plenarily inspired by God it is the sole authority for faith and practice.
We believe there is one living and true God and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Genesis account of creation with all things being created and upheld by God.
We believe than all mankind are now sinners, justly under condemnation and in need of redemption through Christ.
We believe that the only way of salvation for sinners is by grace made possible by the substitutionary death of the Son of God.
We believe that salvation is free to all through the Gospel and that all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are justified, their sin is pardoned and the perfect righteousness of God is imparted to them.
We believe that believers have been made partakers of Christ’s holiness, that they are being progressively sanctified, and that they will be completely sanctified at His glorification. The speaking in tongues is not a sign for today, but has ceased.
We believe that a local, visible church is a congregation of baptized believers associated together by a common faith and fellowship in the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ and governed by His Word; seeking to extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth; that its only Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.
We believe the local visible church of Christ is a voluntary and independent autonomous group of baptized believers…that each congregation recognized its own democratic self-containing government as its highest authority for carrying out the will of God.
We believe that both Christian baptism and the Lord’s Supper are each a memorial, a symbol and a prophecy. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and is a prerequisite to the Lord’s Supper, through which the members of the church commemorate the death of Christ.
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, and is a Christian institution to be kept sacred to spiritual purposes by abstaining from all unnecessary secular labor and recreation as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests of good order of human society, and that civil authorities are to be prayed for, and conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed by the Word of God, which is our supreme rule of faith and practice. A free church is a free state is the Christian ideal.
We believe there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; with only those who through faith are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus are righteous in His sight; while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under condemnation. The righteous look forward to the coming of Christ to receive them into glory to dwell in His presence for all eternity. The wicked await a time of great tribulation upon this earth following the rapture of the righteous, which will culminate with the return of Christ to introduce His Davidic (millennial) kingdom. Following that Millennial kingdom the wicked will be judged at the Great White Throne judgment and cast into the Lake of Fire.
We believe in total and complete separation as taught in the Word of God from all forms of heresy and ecclesiastical apostasy.

The King James version of the Bible is that which is used at all of our meetings and we accept it as the Scripture which is our only rule for faith and practice.

Practices and Behavioral Standards: Each local church sets its own standards, but we commonly hold to these practices. We believe in monogamy and sex only within the bond of marriage (between a man and a woman). We do not accept homosexuality, abortion, and other conduct that is contrary to the teaching of Scripture for our constituents and chaplains. Believers are to be salt and light in the earth, revealing the love of Christ to all in the world. All are expected to be living examples of Christ, to be a baptized member of a local church, and be in submission to the local church in spiritual matters as well as to contribute to the local church faithfully. Since the earliest days of our nation, believers of Baptist persuasion have served our nation and demonstrated a high degree of patriotism. Many chaplains in the Revolutionary forces of our land were of Baptist belief holding the same Biblical tenets as we do today.

Organizational Structure: The New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Church is a very simple organization established only to serve the local churches. Therefore, its organization is very basic, consisting only of elected officers and a board of trustees who choose one to serve as the National Representative for the Association. No action of the Association is in any way binding upon the local church. The National Representative only serves to advise, counsel, and assist the local churches in any way they request. Those endorsed by the Association are expected to remain members in good standing with the local church that is affiliated with the Association land to which they are directly accountable. Any church that violates the beliefs or practices of the Association may be dropped from affiliation at the annual meeting.

Ministerial Leadership: We believe Biblical leadership consists of Pastors (those ordained to lead the church) and deacons (those designated to assist the pastors). Both pastors and laymen serve within the framework of the Association, as chosen by the messengers of the local churches when gathered in annual sessions. Each local church is self-governing and chooses its own leadership under Biblical standards.

Dietary Laws or Restrictions: We believe it is improper for believers to use alcoholic beverage in any form, tobacco in any form, or illicit drugs of any kind. A balanced diet (consisting of meat, vegetables, and fruits) should be maintained conducive to good health.

Funeral and Burial Requirements: NTA chaplains may conduct such services and assist others in doing so, as long as they are not compromising the faith and practices of their local church is that which they are called up to do. There are no restrictions regarding an autopsy. Cremation is not encouraged, but left up to the family and the local church position.

Medical Restrictions: No restrictions for seriously ill, injured or wounded. Life sustaining treatment depends on the laws, and individual conscience.

Other: Communion is restricted to those of like faith and practice as implemented by the local church. No robes or other special paraphernalia are used in worship, or in conducting any services. NTA Chaplains should not participate in any activities which conflict with accepted practices and policies of the local church or the NTAIBC.

Patriotic Service: Independent Baptist believers believe in responding to the call of their government to serve in the armed forces in defense of the country. Yet, this decision in a time of voluntary service (no draft) is a personal matter for each individual believer.

Our Membership includes those in 125 congregations from coast to coast across the United States of America.

Historical Sketch: A growing concern that an unashamedly Biblical, Baptistic, separatistic, pretribulational, premillenial association of churches be in existence led a group of pastors and laymen to call for such an association in the early 1960’s. In the fall of 1963, a call to discuss such an association brought many pastors and laymen to a meeting in Chicago where a Committee was formed to formulate plans and report to a meeting the next year in Denver. On may 28, 1964 in Denver action was taken to adopt a provisional Constitution and Confession of Faith, and to elect the first trustees. At Indianapolis, Indiana on June 10, 1965, the New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches was formally organized. The Constitution is simple with strong safeguards protecting the autonomy of the local churches, yet providing the blessings of fellowship among affiliating Baptist churches. The Statement of Faith is clear and Biblical in every respect. Throughout its nearly 40 years of history the Association has had but four National Representatives, with the current one being Dr. Richard Paige, Jr., of Mesa, AZ, who has served since 2001. While the growth of the Association has been slow, it has been steady, numbering within its ranks many solid, independent Baptist Churches throughout the country. The NTA was granted a Group Tax Exempt Number for our affiliated churches in 1976 by the IRS. The Association was approved as an Endorsing Agency for Chaplains in the U.S. Military in 1985.

While the NTAIBC actively seeks to reach others, the only way one can become a part of our association is through membership in a local church that is affiliated with the NTAIBC. Membership in the local church is only for those who have been born again through personal faith in Jesus Christ, submitted to Him in the waters of believer’s baptism and having presented themselves for membership in the church are received in by vote of the body.

For more information, please contact the NTA National Representative.

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