About Our Church
 At Clifton Forge Baptist Church, we function and
fellowship around God’s Word and work. We understand
that God’s call on our fellowship is to be reflective in all we
say and do.
 The process of transforming a person from lost to found,
death to life is all about God. Our goal is to be vessels of
honor as we are instruments in His plan.
What We Believe
1963 Baptist Faith and Message:
Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention
May 9, 1963

I. THE SCRIPTURES
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of Gods
revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has
God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error,
for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is,
and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the
supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions
should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus
Christ.

Ex 24:4; De 4:1-2; 17:19; Jos 8:34
Psa 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140
Isa 34:16; 40:8; Jer 15:16; 36:1-32
Mat 5:17-18; 22:29; Lu 21:33; 24:44-46
Joh 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Ac 2:16; 17:11
Rom 15:4; 16:25-26; 2Ti 3:15-17
Heb 1:1-2; 4:12; 1Pe 1:25; 2Pe 1:19-21

II. GOD
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and
personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God
is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To Him we owe the highest love,
reverence, and obedience.
The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with
distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

A. God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and
the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace.
He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who
become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude
toward all men.

Gen 1:1; 2:7; Ex 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11; 20:1
Lev 22:2; De 6:4; 32:6; 1Ch 29:10; Psa 19:1-3
Isa 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jer 10:10; 17:13
Mat 6:9; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11
John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7
Rom 8:14-15; 1Co 8:6; Gal 4:6; Eph 4:6
Col 1:15; 1Ti 1:17; Heb 11:6; 12:9; 1Pe 1:17; 1Jo 5:7

B. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ he was
conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed
and did the will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of
human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin.
He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the
cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from
the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who
was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted
at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, partaking of the nature of
God and of man, and in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God
and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate
His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever
present Lord.

Gen 18:1; Psalm 2:7; 110:1; Isa 7:14; 53:1-12
Mat 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27
Mat 17:5; 27; 28:1-6, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11
Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46
John 1:1-18, 29; 10:30, 38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50
John 14:7-11, 16:15-16, 28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20, 28
Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20
Rom 1; 3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3, 34; 10:4
1Co 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2Co 5:19-21
Gal 4:4-5; Eph 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Php 2:5-11
Col 1:13-22; 2:9; 1Th 4:14-18; 1Ti 2:5-6; 3:16
Tit 2:13-14; Heb 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28
Heb 9:12-15, 24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1Pe 2:21-25; 3:22
1Jo 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14- 15; 5:9; 2Jo 7-9
Rev 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16

C. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the
Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts
Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the
Saviour, and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts
believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts" by which they serve God through His
church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the
Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fulness of the
stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in
worship, evangelism, and service.

Gen 1:2; Jud 14:6; Job 26:13; Psa 51:11; 139:7
Isa 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32
Mat 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mk 1:10, 12
Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49
John 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14
Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39 Acts 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6;
19:1-6
Rom 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1Co 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11
Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1Th 5:19
1Ti 3:16; 4:1; 2Ti 1:14; 3:16; Heb 9:8, 14
2Pe 1:21; 1Jo 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev 1:10; 22:17

III. MAN
Man was created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the
crowning work of His creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and
was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man
sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation
of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original
innocence; whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined
toward sin, and as soon as they are capable of moral action become transgressors
and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy
fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness
of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in
that Christ died for man; therefore every man possesses dignity and is worthy of
respect and Christian love.

Gen 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6
Psa 1:1-6; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa 6:5; Jer 17:5
Matt 16:26; Acts 17:26-31
Rom 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6
Rom 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1Co 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22
Eph 2:1-22; Col 1:21-22; 3:9-11

IV. SALVATION
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all
who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained
eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes
regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.

A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of Gods grace whereby believers
become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the
Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance
toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a
genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and
commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.
Justification is Gods gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His
righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings
the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.

B. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the
believer is set apart to Gods purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral
and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit
dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate
persons life.

C. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding
state of the redeemed.

Gen 3:15; Ex 3:14-17; 6:2-8
Mat 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6
Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32
John 1:11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29
John 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31
Acts 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3
Rom 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18; 29-39; 10:9-10, 13
Rom 13:11-14; 1Cor 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:10
2Co 5:17-20; Gal 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15
Eph 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Php 2:12-13; Col 1:9-22; 3:1
1Th 5:23-24; 2Tim 1:12; Titus 2:11-14
Heb 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14
James 2:14-26; 1Pe 1:2-23; 1Jo 1:6-2:11
Rev 3:20; 21:1-22:5

V. GOD'S PURPOSE OF GRACE
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates,
sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and
comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is a glorious display of
Gods sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It
excludes boasting and promotes humility.
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and
sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall
persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation,
whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach
on the cause of Christ, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Gen 12:1-3; Ex 19:5-8; 1Sa 8:4-7, 19-22
Isa 5:1-7; Jer 31:31
Mat 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22, 31; 25:34
Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48
John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45, 65; 10:27-29
John 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32
Rom 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36
1Co 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Eph 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11
Col 1:12-14; 2Th 2:13-14; 2Ti 1:12; 2:10, 19
Heb 11:39-12:2; 1Pe 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10
1Jo 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2

VI. THE CHURCH
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized
believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel,
observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising
the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to
extend the gospel to the ends of the earth.
This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes
under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation members are equally
responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ which
includes all of the redeemed of all the ages.

Mat 16:15-19; 18:15-20
Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27
Acts 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom 1:7
1Co 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12
Eph 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32
Php 1:1; Col 1:18; 1Ti 3:1-15; 4:14

VII. BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the
believers faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believers death to sin,
the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ
Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a
church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to
the Lords Supper.
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the
church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the
death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

Mat 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mk 1:9-11; 14:22-26
Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23
Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7
Rom 6:3-5; 1Co 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; Col 2:12

VIII. THE LORD'S DAY
The first day of the week is the Lords Day. It is a Christian institution for regular
observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should
be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and
private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular
employments, work of necessity and mercy only being excepted.

Ex 20:8-11; Mat 12:1-12; 28:1; Mk 2:27-28; 16:1-7
Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1, 19-28
Acts 20:7; 1Co 16:1-2; Col 2:16; 3:16; Rev 1:10

IX. THE KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and
His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King.
Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by
trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to
labor that the Kingdom may come and Gods will be done on earth. The full
consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of
this age.

Gen 1:1; Isa 9:6-7; Jer 23:5-6
Mat 3:2; 4:8-10, 23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29
Mk 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32
Luke 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36
Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Rom 5:17; 8:19
1Co 15:24-28; Col 1:13; Heb 11:10, 16; 12:28
1Pe 2:4-10; 4:13; Rev 1:6, 9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22

X. LAST THINGS
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate
end. According to His promise, 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 resurrected and glorified bodies will receive
their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Isa 2:4; 11:9; Mat 16:27; 18:8-9
Mat 19:28; 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64
Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26
Luke 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3
Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom 14:10; 1Co 4:5
1Co 15:24-28, 35-58; 2Co 5:10; Php 3:20-21
Col 1:5; 3:4; 1Th 4:14-18; 5:1; 2Th 1:7; 2:1-17
1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:1, 8; Tit 2:13; Heb 9:27-28
James 5:8; 2Pe 3:7; 1Jo 2:28; 3:2
Jude 14; Rev 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13

XI. EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS
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 new birth of
mans spirit by Gods Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary
effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life,
and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. It is the
duty of every child of God 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
Mat 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19
Mat 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53
John 14:11-12; 15:7-8, 16; 17:15; 20:21
Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3
Rom 10:13-15; Eph 3:1-11; 1Th 1:8; 2Ti 4:5
Heb 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1Pe 2:4-10; Rev 22:17

XII. EDUCATION
The cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of
missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal
support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian schools is necessary to
a complete spiritual program for Christs people.
In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic
freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of
human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a
Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus
Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose
for which the school exists.

De 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Neh 8:1-8; Job 28:28
Psa 19:7; 119:11; Pro 3:13; 4:1-10; 8:1-7, 11; 15:14
Ecc 7:19; Mat 5:2; 7:24; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40
1Co 1:18-31; Eph 4:11-16; Php 4:8; Col 2:3, 8-9
1Ti 1:3-7; 2Ti 2:15; 3:14-17; Heb 5:12-6:3
James 1:5; 3:17

XIII. STEWARDSHIP
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 binding stewardship in their possessions. They are
therefore under obligation 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 of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically,
proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemers cause on
earth.

Gen 14:20; Lev 27:30-32; De 8:18; Mal 3:8-12
Mat 6:1-4, 19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29
Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47
Acts 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Ro 6:6-22; 12:1-2
1Co 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2Co 8-9; 12:15
Php 4:10-19; 1Pe 1:18-19

XIV. COOPERATION
Christs people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and
conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom
of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the
churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine; and
direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New
Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the
missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christs
Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and
voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christs people.
Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the
end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no
violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as
revealed in the New Testament.

Ex 17:12; 18:17; Jud 7:21; Ezr 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15
Ne 4; 8:1-5; Mat 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20
Mk 2:3; Luke 10:1; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1; 4:31-37; 13:2-3
Acts 15:1-35; 1Co 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2Co 8:1-9:15
Gal 1:6-10; Eph 4:1-16; Php 1:15-18

XV. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SOCIAL ORDER
Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in
his own life and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement
of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and
permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual
by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus. The Christian should oppose in the
spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness, and vice. He should work to
provide for the orphaned, the needy, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. Every
Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under
the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to
promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will
in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without
compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.

Ex 20:3-17; Lev 6:2-5; De 10:12; 27:17
Psalm 101:5; Mic 6:8; Zech 8:16
Mat 5:13-16, 43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35
Mk 1:29-34, 2:3; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25
John 15:12; 17:15; Rom 12-14; 1Co 5:9-10; 6:1-7
1Co 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Gal 3:26-28; Eph 6:5-9
Col 3:12-17; 1Th 3:12; Phm 1:1-25; Jas 1:27; 2:8

XVI. PEACE AND WAR
It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of
righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should
do all in their power to put an end to war.
The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of
the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations,
and the practical application of His law of love.

Isa 2:4; Mat 5:9, 38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38
Rom 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Heb 12:14; Jas 4:1-2

XVII. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has Left it free from the doctrines
and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in
it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church
protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for
such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the
state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of
Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the
revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on
its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit
of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any
kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of
religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the
right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to
form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the
civil power.

Gen 1:27; 2:7; Mat 6:6-7, 24; 16:26; 22:21
John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom 6:1-2; 13:1-7
Gal 5:1, 13; Php 3:20; 1Ti 2:1-2; Jas 4:12
1Pe 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19
Meet the Staff
Kathryn Crutchfield
Minister of Music
Rev. Jeff A. Riley
Youth Pastor and Outreach Coordinator
Jack Hanner
Organist
Debbie O'Meara
Secretary