Our Essential Beliefs

 

About God

There is one and only one living and true God.  The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

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About 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.

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About God the Son

Jesus 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.  He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of men from sin.

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About God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine.  He exalts Christ.  He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.  He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

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About the Scriptures

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s 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.

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About Human Beings

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character.  People are the supreme object of God’s creation.  Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by sin that separates people from God and causes many problems in life.

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About Salvation

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer.  In its broadest sense, salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.  There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

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About Baptism

We believe that baptism is commanded by Christ and illustrates Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.  Additionally, baptism illustrates the new life Jesus gives to believers in Himself.  This outward symbol of an inward commitment is by immersion and happens after conversion; it is the believer’s first act of obedience.

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About Eternity

People were created to exist forever.  We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation.  To be eternally separated from God is hell.  To be eternally with Him in heaven.  Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.

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About Eternal Security

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity.  If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” your salvation.  Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.  It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.

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About the Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a symbol and statement of faith for believers.  During this time, believers remember Christ’s sacrificial death and their relationship with Him.

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About Tithing

We believe in giving the tithe, as commanded by Scripture.  Tithing demonstrates that God has first place in our lives and is done regularly, willingly, and joyfully as we share in ministry and make an investment in eternity.

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About the Church

A New Testament church is a local autonomous body of believers who are associated by their common faith and fellowship with Jesus Christ.  It is the desire of every member to protect the unity, share the responsibility, serve the ministry, and support the life of the church.

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About Evangelism

It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the good news with those with whom God has brought us into contact.  We practice personal sharing about Christ and inviting friends to church.

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Study a more expansive presentation of our beliefs contained in the

Baptist Faith and Message 2000.