|
THE WORD OF GOD: We believe the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and New Testaments are the divinely inspired, infallible Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, and God’s complete, written revelation to humankind. The Bible is sufficient and trustworthy for life, faith, conduct, and practice, and is the supreme and final authority in all matters to which it speaks. We further believe that there is but one true interpretation of Scripture, although there may be several applications. The true meaning lies in the text and is that which the divinely-guided author willed to convey. It is recoverable through careful application of a literal (grammatical, historical, contextual) method of interpretation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in the community of Christ. The Holy Spirit illumines the text, enabling the reader to embrace the significance of what God has communicated, and to see the glory of Christ in the Word of God. 2Timothy 3 :16-17; 2Peter 1:19-21.
THE TRINITY: We believe in one God Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally divine, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; we believe that these are equal in every distinct perfection and they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. 1Peter 1:2; 3:18; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:18-19; Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:10-11; 2Corinthians 13:14
GOD 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 humanity, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. We believe God’s knowledge is exhaustive; that He fully knows the past, present, and future independent of human decisions and actions. The Father does everything in accordance with His perfect will, though His sovereignty neither eliminates nor minimizes our personal responsibility. Exodus 20:2-3; 1Corinthians 8:6; John 3:16; Matthew 7:7; Hebrews 7:25; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:11; Daniel 4:34-35; Romans 5:6-11
JESUS CHRIST: We believe that Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God’s eternal Son. God the son has precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections as God the father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe further that He is not only true God, but true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We also believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His priestly intercession on behalf of His people. We further believe that He is the Second Adam , the federal head of His people. John 3:16; 1Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 2:17; Acts 1:11; John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:1-4; 7:24-28; Romans 5:12ff; Matthew 1:21
HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the Holy Spirit, His personality and His work in regeneration, sanctification and preservation. We believe He came forth from God to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, comfort and seal forever those who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to implement Christ’s work of redeeming the lost, and to empower the believer for godly living and service. We believe the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers as He wills for the common good. No gift signifies His baptism or filling, nor does any gift provide authoritative revelation beyond what has already been revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Life in the Spirit includes trials and does not guarantee physical health, material wealth, nor confirming outward signs. John 14:16-18; 16:5-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-17; 1Corinthians 12:4-13; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2Timothy 3:12; 2Corinthians 12:9-10
MAN: We believe God originally created persons, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. We further believe that in the Fall the human race sinned in Adam, therefore, all people are sinners by nature and choice and are spiritually dead. We also believe that those who repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe God established marriage to be a life long covenant relationship between one man and one woman. Marriage so defined is the only permissible context for intimate sexual expression and is the foundation for human family. We further believe that human life is precious and should be protected from beginning at fertilization, until death. Genesis 1:26-30; 2:18-25; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-4; Mark 1:14-15; Acts 2:37-39; 16:29-32; Romans 10:8-13; 1Peter 1:22-23; Matthew 19:1-10; 1Corinthians 7:1-5; Romans 13:8-10; Romans 5:12ff.
SALVATION: We believe in salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We further believe that salvation is based upon divine election and the sovereign grace of God to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. We believe salvation was
purchased by Jesus Christ on the cross, is eternally secured by the Holy Spirit, and is received by faith, apart from any human merit, works, or ritual. We further believe salvation results in righteous living, good works, and proper social concern. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 9:10-13;
Ephesians 1:4-7; Romans 3:21-28; Titus 2:14; James 2:14-24; Romans 8:28-39
THE CHURCH: We believe that the local church is composed of regenerated, immersed believers, voluntarily united together for the purpose of the worship of God, the fellowship of believers and the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ throughout the world. We believe that the Church of the firstborn, whose names are registered in heaven, is the bride of Christ, whom He purchased with His own blood, and is loved, chosen, called, and secure in Christ for all eternity. Acts 2:41-42; 1Corinthians 11:2; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Hebrews 12:22-24; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:22-27; Revelation 19:6-9; 21:9
BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES: We believe in the competence of the individual soul in direct approach to God; the priesthood of all believers, a regenerated church membership; the symbolic ordinances of believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper; that each church is autonomous and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; the absolute separation of church and state; and a world-wide program of missionary endeavor in obedience to the final command of our Lord. 1Peter 2:5, 9; Acts 8:26-39; 1Corinthians 11:23-30; Acts 4:19-20; Matthew 22:21; Matthew 28:18-20.
LAST THINGS: We believe that 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 the New Heaven and New Earth with the Lord. 1Thessalonians 4:13-5:1-5; 2Thessalonians 1:7-2:1-15; 2Peter 3:7-13; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 21:1-27; 1Corinthians 15:50-58
|
