What We Believe

What We Believe

The Scriptures

The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13).

 

The Godhead

There is one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

 

The Person and Work of Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man ( John 1:1-2; John 1:14; Luke 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead ( Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3–5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry as Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate ( Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1–2). We believe Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead ( 1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:9; 2 Timothy 4:1 ).

 

The Person & Work of The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption ( John 16:8–11; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18).
Man

Man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; man is totally depraved and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition ( Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 3:22-23, Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 2:12).

 

Salvation

Salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins ( Ephesians 2:8–10, John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19).

 

Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

All the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever ( John 6:37–40, 10:27–30; Romans 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Corinthians 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5). 

 

The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer’s responsibility to attempt to develop their sovereignly given spiritual gift(s) for the common good of the beilievers. We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God that is given to him ( Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Peter 4:10–11).

 

The Church

The church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons ( Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25–27; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; 2 Corinthians 11:2). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures ( Acts 14:27, 18:22, 20:17; 1 Timothy 3:1–3; Titus 1:5–11). We believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control ( Acts 13:1–4, 15:19–31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16, 5:4–7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1–4). We recognize believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s supper as scriptural ordinances and means of testimony for the church ( Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

The Last Things

In the resurrection of both those who believe in Jesus and those who do not believe: those believing to eternal life with Christ and those unbelieving to eternal punishment in hell.

For a deeper look into What We Beleve please click on this link: http://www.baptiststart.com/print/1963_baptist_faith_message.html